NASA scientists say that they are delighted that one of their spacecraft has successfully entered its orbit around the planet Mars. It can now begin its descent towards the planet to beam back a valuable new source of information.
Duncan Kennedy reports from Los Angeles:
Mission controllers erupted in cheers at their headquarters in Pasadena when the craft entered the exact orbit around Mars.
In the words of one watching, everybody was on pins and needles until the orbiter signalled it had reached the right position .
It has taken six months getting to the planet. Jim Graff, the project manager, spoke of his teams delight.
It's a great feeling to have another spacecraft orbiting Mars, especially with the payload this one is carrying. It is going to rewrite the science textbooks on Mars.
Two previous orbiter missions have failed to get to Mars. The latest project is costing around 720 million dollars ¿ about 430 million pounds.
The orbiter will now make some 500 trips around Mars, studying the surface and the atmosphere in greater detail than ever before and trying to see if any kind of life existed there.
mission controllers
los controladores de la misión
craft entered the exact orbit around Mars
en este caso la nave Mars Orbiter ingresó exitosamente en la orbita del planeta Marte
on pins and needles
pins son alfileres; needles son agujas; la expresión 'on pins and needles' quiere decir estar nervioso
delight
estar encantado con algo, aquí, el equipo está encantado con el resultado de la misión
signalled
mandar una señal, en este caso, Mars Orbiter mandó una señal a la NASA
payload
la carga; aquí, en el sentido científico específico de equipamiento, o sea el equipamiento que lleva el Mars Orbiter
rewrite the science textbooks on Mars
literalmente: escribir de nuevo los libros de ciencia sobre Marte, lo que aquí significa que cambia todo lo que se sabe acerca de este planeta
the surface and the atmosphere
la superficie y la atmósfera, o sea el suelo y aire del planeta Marte
greater detail
con información o detalles más precisos
existed
existir; el texto se refiere a la vida que pueda existir en el planeta Marte
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