Digital Journal — The spacecraft sent on an seven-month journey to Mars has successfully slipped into orbit around the Red Planet.
Scientists were ecstatic as the orbiter made it through the most dangerous part of the journey. “I am very relieved,” project manager Jim Graf told Times Online. “It was picture perfect.” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California is managing the mission.
Scientists and observers have been nervous because Mars has been known to swallow probes sent in the past. This swing into orbit was performed without any problems.
The NASA spacecraft joins three other orbiters already circling the planet. This two-ton orbiter is the most sophisticated to arrive on Mars and hopes are high that the spacecraft will gather more data than all previous missions combined. Equipped with a high-resolution camera, the spacecraft will stay in low orbit for four years to study climate and landscape. .
The orbiter will also be exploring the Martian landscape with the hopes of finding evidence that water has been present. It will also look for future landing sites to send robotic and perhaps even human voyagers.
