Indian Mangalyaan probe enters the orbit of Mars to find … – RTVE

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The Indian probe Mangalyaan He entered Wednesday in the orbit of Mars, making the Asian country in the fourth power that manages to reach the Red Planet , as indicated by an official source.

The Organization India Space Research (ISRO) confirmed the success of its first Mars probe, which began on November 5 Earth and has traveled 670 miles in 300 days .

The satellite Mangalyaan -Vehicle of Mars, study the surface topography and atmosphere of the planet and will focus on the search for methane, one of the indicators of the existence of life.

Rocket of India’s first interplanetary mission, the Mars Orbiter Mission, stopped this local morning the probe for 24 minutes until he was caught by the gravity of Mars.

Scientists at the center of mission control of the city of Bangalore erupted in applause and gestures of joy, as shown on local television NDTV.

The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, who witnessed the historic when the control center, said his country has achieved “almost impossible” .

Fourth power to conquer Mars

“The odds were against us. Of the 51 missions that have been launched until now only 21 were successful . We have achieved, “the president said at the ISRO scientists.

India joins the United States, Russia and the European Space Agency in the conquest of Mars .

The Japanese attempt in 2003 and China in 2011 resulted in failures.

The American space agency NASA has congratulated the ISRO for its success. “We congratulate the ISRO for its arrival at Mars! MarsOrbiter joins missions studying Mars, “NASA wrote on its Twitter account.

In fact, the American lunar probe Maven came two days ago in the Martian orbit.

Mission developed in record time

The Indian mission has a cost of $ 73 million and has been developed in record time 15 months by 1,000 scientists, according to the ISRO.

In contrast Maven satellite cost $ 670 million, although it is a more powerful mission and carry out further studies.

India has one of the world’s most active space programs, with the release of far more than 100 missions since its inception a little over half a century.

last July launched the first satellite navigation system similar to the American Global Positioning System (GPS), which will become operational in 2015 itself.

India, which in 2008 sent its first lunar probe, plan in 2016 launched its first manned space mission.