印度“曼加里安”火星卫星成功进入轨道 火星, 印度

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India has successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars, becoming the fourth country to do so.

印度成功将一颗卫星送入火星轨道，成为第四个拥有火星卫星的国家。

The Mangalyaan robotic probe, one of the cheapest interplanetary missions ever, will soon begin work studying the Red Planet's atmosphere.

A 24-minute engine burn slowed the probe down enough to allow it to be captured by Mars' gravity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had achieved the "near impossible".

Speaking at the mission control centre in the southern city of Bangalore he said: "The odds were stacked against us. Of 51 missions attempted in the world only 21 have succeeded. We have prevailed."

Only the US, Europe and Russia have previously sent missions to Mars, but India is the first country to succeed on its first attempt.

The latest US satellite, Maven, arrived at Mars on Monday.

US space agency Nasa congratulated its Indian counterpart, the Indian Space and Research Organization (Isro), on Wednesday's success.

"We congratulate @ISRO for its Mars arrival! @MarsOrbiter joins the missions studying the Red Planet," the agency tweeted.
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