NASA probe a year later reached the orbit of Mars – BFM.Ru

The spacecraft will soon begin to study the upper atmosphere “red planet”

Maven probe entered orbit around Mars. Journey of a spacecraft from Earth to the red planet lasted almost a year. During this time he covered a distance of 442 million miles (711 million kilometers), according to The Washington Post referring to NASA. Read also: From Cape Canaveral to the ISS space truck starts Dragon

In the space agency confirmed that access to the orbit of scientific satellite occurred on schedule. Maven mission on Mars is estimated at 671 million dollars.

In the next six months of the automatic flight control will follow the Maven and check the operation of its instruments. It is expected that the device will soon begin to study the upper atmosphere of the planet. The satellite will be engaged in this work in orbit, and will not be landing on Mars.

Scientists believe that through the study of the Martian atmosphere, they will be able to find the keys to understanding how the neighboring planet to Earth in a few billion years evolved from a warm and humid in the cold and dry.