India Spacecraft Successfully Arrives at Mars
The Mangalyaan probe, the country’s first mission to another world, has entered the red planet’s orbit

9-24-2014 | Sanjay Kumar and Nature magazine

India joined the distinguished club of Mars explorers on 24 September, as its Mangalyaan probe maneuvered into the red planet’s orbit according to plan. Until then, only the United States, the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency had conducted missions that successfully reached Mars. India’s space program is the first to do so on its first attempt.

“History has been created today,” declared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) mission control room in Bangalore. “The odds were stacked against us but we have prevailed and have achieved the near impossible,” he added.

As the news of the probe’s successful insertion into orbit poured in, the ISRO control room erupted into thunderous applause, with scientists shaking hands, hugging and distributing sweets.

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