MAVEN is on its own now, headed for Mars! Applause roared up from the control rooms.The Centaur is far behind the scientific spacecraft and getting farther behind. The Centaur will be maneuvered so it doesn’t interfere with MAVEN or Mars later. Next up for MAVEN is the unfurling of its gull wing solar arrays so it can begin recharging its onboard batteries in about 20 minutes.
Congratulations on a well executed and successful launch. Let’s hope the cruise goes as well as the launch!
Terrific launch, looks like one of the major hurdles has been accomplished.
I hope the initial trajectory was carried out as planed and minimal adjustments will be required.
Congrats to everyone involved