India\\\'s first Mars satellite \\\'Mangalyaan\\\' enters orbit
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
India has successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars, becoming the fourth nation or geo-bloc to do so. The Mangalyaan robotic probe, one of the cheapest interplanetary missions ever, will soon begin work studying the Red Planet's atmosphere. A 24-minute engine burn slowed the probe down enough to allow it to be captured by Mars' gravity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had achieved the ‘near impossible’. Only the US, Russia and Europe have previously sent missions to Mars, and India has succeeded on its first attempt - an achievement that eluded even the Americans and the Soviets. The latest US satellite, Maven, arrived at Mars on Monday. US space agency Nasa congratulated its Indian counterpart, the Indian Space and Research Organization (Isro), on Wednesday's success, according to BBC.