Mars spacecraft first to investigate upper atmosphere of the red planet

Mars spacecraft first to investigate upper atmosphere of the red planet

NASA reported that its Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft, the “first spacecraft dedicated to exploring the tenuous upper atmosphere of Mars,” successfully rendezvoused with Mars and began orbiting the planet on September 21.

MAVEN’s successful rendezvous was the culmination of 11 years of work for the NASA team and about 10 months of travel for the spacecraft.


When the NASA team got the news they had been waiting for—“Based on observed navigation data, congratulations, MAVEN is now in Mars orbit”—they “erupted with cheers of happiness and relief.” There was only one opportunity during the spacecraft’s projection to get it into orbit, and they had succeeded.

MAVEN is now in the data collection phase of its journey. Three of its eight scientific instruments were activated on September 22, and the rest will activate between now and early November.


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