- News>
- Space
Mars Express launched into orbit
Darmstadt, Germany, Dec 25: Europe`s Mars Express went into orbit around Mars early today, the flight director said, as controllers awaited word on whether the companion Beagle 2 surface probe had landed safely on the red planet.
Darmstadt, Germany, Dec 25: Europe's Mars Express went into orbit around Mars early today, the flight director said, as controllers awaited word on whether the companion Beagle 2 surface probe had landed safely on the red planet.
Flight director Michael McKay said controllers had detected a signal from a small antenna aboard the ship as it emerged from behind Mars on schedule at 0411 GMT (0941 IST) Christmas day.
However, he cautioned that the signal lacked data that would confirm the spacecraft was still in working order.
Mars Express reappeared following a manoeuver in which it fired its engine to slow it enough for Mars' gravity to pull it into orbit - crucial for Beagle because the orbiter will relay the lander's data back to earth.
The signal ``was the first good indication that the burn went well,'' McKay said, confirming that Mars Express was in orbit.
Final confirmation that the maneuver was successful was expected to take about another three hours as controllers turned the main antenna on Mars Express, which was reversed for the orbit maneuver, to face Earth.
Bureau Report
Flight director Michael McKay said controllers had detected a signal from a small antenna aboard the ship as it emerged from behind Mars on schedule at 0411 GMT (0941 IST) Christmas day.
However, he cautioned that the signal lacked data that would confirm the spacecraft was still in working order.
Mars Express reappeared following a manoeuver in which it fired its engine to slow it enough for Mars' gravity to pull it into orbit - crucial for Beagle because the orbiter will relay the lander's data back to earth.
The signal ``was the first good indication that the burn went well,'' McKay said, confirming that Mars Express was in orbit.
Final confirmation that the maneuver was successful was expected to take about another three hours as controllers turned the main antenna on Mars Express, which was reversed for the orbit maneuver, to face Earth.
Bureau Report