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Nasa's Maven spacecraft arrives in Mars orbit after 442m-mile journey Nasa's Maven spacecraft arrives in Mars orbit after 442m-mile journey
(about 7 hours later)
Nasa’s Maven spacecraft arrived in orbit around Mars late on Sunday night US east coast time after a 442m-mile (700m-kilometre) journey that began nearly a year ago.Nasa’s Maven spacecraft arrived in orbit around Mars late on Sunday night US east coast time after a 442m-mile (700m-kilometre) journey that began nearly a year ago.
The robotic explorer fired its brakes and successfully slipped into orbit around the red planet, officials confirmed.The robotic explorer fired its brakes and successfully slipped into orbit around the red planet, officials confirmed.
“This is such an incredible night,” said John Grunsfeld, Nasa’s chief for science missions.“This is such an incredible night,” said John Grunsfeld, Nasa’s chief for science missions.
Now the real work begins for the mission, which has cost almost $US700m. Now the real work begins for the mission, which has cost almost $700m (£430m).
Flight controllers will spend the next six weeks adjusting Maven’s altitude and checking its science instruments. Then Maven will start probing the Martian upper atmosphere. The spacecraft is not meant to land on the planet.Flight controllers will spend the next six weeks adjusting Maven’s altitude and checking its science instruments. Then Maven will start probing the Martian upper atmosphere. The spacecraft is not meant to land on the planet.
Scientists believe the Martian atmosphere holds clues as to how Earth’s neighbour went from being warm and wet billions of years ago to cold and dry. That early moist world may have harboured microbial life, a tantalising question yet to be answered.Scientists believe the Martian atmosphere holds clues as to how Earth’s neighbour went from being warm and wet billions of years ago to cold and dry. That early moist world may have harboured microbial life, a tantalising question yet to be answered.
Nasa launched Maven last November from Cape Canaveral, the 10th US mission sent to orbit the red planet. Three earlier ones failed, and until the official word came of success late on Sunday night, the entire team was on edge.Nasa launched Maven last November from Cape Canaveral, the 10th US mission sent to orbit the red planet. Three earlier ones failed, and until the official word came of success late on Sunday night, the entire team was on edge.
“I don’t have any fingernails any more, but we’ve made it,” said Colleen Hartman, deputy director for science at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It’s incredible.”“I don’t have any fingernails any more, but we’ve made it,” said Colleen Hartman, deputy director for science at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “It’s incredible.”
The spacecraft was clocking more than 10,000mph (16,000kph) when it hit the brakes for the so-called orbital insertion, a half-hour process. The world had to wait 12 minutes to learn the outcome, once it occurred, because of the lag in spacecraft signals given the 138m miles between the two planets on Sunday.The spacecraft was clocking more than 10,000mph (16,000kph) when it hit the brakes for the so-called orbital insertion, a half-hour process. The world had to wait 12 minutes to learn the outcome, once it occurred, because of the lag in spacecraft signals given the 138m miles between the two planets on Sunday.
“Based on observed navigation data, congratulations, Maven is now in Mars orbit,” came the official announcement. Flight controllers applauded the news and shook hands; laughter filled the previously tense-filled room.“Based on observed navigation data, congratulations, Maven is now in Mars orbit,” came the official announcement. Flight controllers applauded the news and shook hands; laughter filled the previously tense-filled room.
Maven joins three spacecraft already circling Mars, two American and one European. And the traffic jam isn’t over: India’s first interplanetary probe, Mangalyaan, will reach Mars in two days and also aim for orbit.Maven joins three spacecraft already circling Mars, two American and one European. And the traffic jam isn’t over: India’s first interplanetary probe, Mangalyaan, will reach Mars in two days and also aim for orbit.
Maven’s chief investigator, Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, hopes to learn where all the water on Mars went, along with the carbon dioxide that once comprised an atmosphere thick enough to hold moist clouds.Maven’s chief investigator, Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, hopes to learn where all the water on Mars went, along with the carbon dioxide that once comprised an atmosphere thick enough to hold moist clouds.
The gases may have been stripped away by the sun early in Mars’s existence, escaping into the upper atmosphere and out into space. Maven’s observations should be able to extrapolate back in time, Jakosky said.The gases may have been stripped away by the sun early in Mars’s existence, escaping into the upper atmosphere and out into space. Maven’s observations should be able to extrapolate back in time, Jakosky said.
Maven – short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission – will spend at least a year collecting data. That’s a full Earth year, half a Martian one. Its orbit will dip as low as 78m miles above the Martian surface as its eight instruments make measurements. The craft is as long as a bus, from solar wingtip to tip, and weighs about as much as a large car.Maven – short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission – will spend at least a year collecting data. That’s a full Earth year, half a Martian one. Its orbit will dip as low as 78m miles above the Martian surface as its eight instruments make measurements. The craft is as long as a bus, from solar wingtip to tip, and weighs about as much as a large car.
Maven will have a rare brush with a comet next month.Maven will have a rare brush with a comet next month.
The nucleus of Comet Siding Spring – named after the observatory near Coonabarabran in Australia, where it was discovered last year – will pass 82,000 miles from Mars on 19 October. The risk of comet dust damaging Maven was low, officials said, and the spacecraft should be able to observe Siding Spring as a science bonus.The nucleus of Comet Siding Spring – named after the observatory near Coonabarabran in Australia, where it was discovered last year – will pass 82,000 miles from Mars on 19 October. The risk of comet dust damaging Maven was low, officials said, and the spacecraft should be able to observe Siding Spring as a science bonus.
Lockheed Martin, Maven’s maker, is operating the mission from its control centre at Littleton, Colorado.Lockheed Martin, Maven’s maker, is operating the mission from its control centre at Littleton, Colorado.
This is Nasa’s 21st shot at Mars and the first since the Curiosity rover landed on the red planet in 2012. Just this month, Curiosity arrived at its prime science target, a mountain named Sharp, ripe for drilling. The Opportunity rover is also still active a decade after landing.This is Nasa’s 21st shot at Mars and the first since the Curiosity rover landed on the red planet in 2012. Just this month, Curiosity arrived at its prime science target, a mountain named Sharp, ripe for drilling. The Opportunity rover is also still active a decade after landing.
All these robotic scouts are paving the way for the human explorers Nasa hopes to send in the 2030s.All these robotic scouts are paving the way for the human explorers Nasa hopes to send in the 2030s.