NASAs Maven spacecraft entered orbit around Mars late Sunday following a 442-million-mile journey that began nearly a year ago. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—NASAs Maven spacecraft entered orbit around Mars for an unprecedented study of the red planets atmosphere following a 442 million-mile journey that began nearly a year ago. The robotic explorer successfully slipped into orbit a round the red planet late Sunday night. I think my hearts about ready to start again, Mavens chief investigator, Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado, said early Monday. All I can say at this point is, Were in orbit at Mars, guys! Now the real work begins for the $671 million mission, the first dedicated to studying the Martian upper atmosphere and the latest step in NASAs bid to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s. Flight controllers in Colorado will spend the next six weeks adjusting Mavens altitude and checking its science instruments, and observing a comet streaking by at relatively close range. Then in early November, Maven will start probing the upper atmosphere of Mars. The spacecraft will conduct its observations from orbit; it isnt meant to land. Scientists believe the Martian atmosphere holds clues as to how Earths neighbor went from being warm and wet billions of years ago to cold and dry. That early wet world may have harbored microbial life, a tantalizing question yet to be answered. NASA launched Maven, the 10th U.S. mission sent to orbit the red planet, last November from Cape Canaveral. Three earlier missions failed and until the official word came of success late Sunday night, the entire team was on edge. I dont have any fingernails any more, but weve made it, said Colleen Hartman, deputy director for science at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Its incredible. The spacecraft was traveling at more than 10,000 mph 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 out come once it occurred because of the lag in receiving signals from the spacecraft. Wow, what a night. You get one shot with Mars orbit insertion, and Maven nailed it tonight, said NASA project manager David Mitchell. Maven joins three spacecraft already circling Mars, two American and one European. And the traffic jam isnt over: Indias first interplanetary probe, Mangalyaan, will reach Mars in two days and aim for orbit. Mr. Jakosky wished the team well. Mr. Jakosky, who is with the University of Colorados 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 existence, escaping into the upper atmosphere and out into space. Mavens observations should be able to extrapolate back in time, Mr. Jakosky said. Maven, short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission, will spend at least one Earth year—about half a Martian one—collecting data. Its orbit will dip as low as 78 miles above the Martian surface as its eight instruments make measurements. The craft is as long as a school bus, from solar wingtip to tip, and as hefty as an SUV.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:20:16 +0000
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