The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) space probe, launched on November 18, 2013, successfully entered Mars orbit a few hours ago. The spacecraft thrusters performed a 33 minutes burn to slow it down to the right speed to get into an elliptical orbit with a period of 35 hours.

Now a period of six weeks starts in which MAVEN will be programmed for further orbital correction maneuvers and to test its instruments. Subsequently, it will begin its primary mission to study the Martian atmosphere.