Topographic map of Venus from Magellan imagery
Topographic map of Venus from Magellan imagery
Venus right-look RADAR map
Venus right-look RADAR map

Magellan was launched in 1989 to collect radar imagery, topography, and gravity field data of Venus. Magellan orbited Venus for four years during its extended mission. At the conclusion of the mission, Magellan was intentionally crashed into the planet's surface, allowing the spacecraft to collect data on Venus' atmosphere before it was destroyed. It was the first time a working planetary spacecraft was ever intentionally crashed.