Mars spacecraft repositioned for orbit

Posted by tourdemars to Mars Express at December 21, 2003 12:00 PM

European space controllers said they repositioned the Mars Express spacecraft Saturday, steering it away from its collision course with the Red Planet and moving it toward Martian orbit on Christmas. The crucial maneuver comes a day after the Mars Express successfully separated from the unmanned Beagle 2 surface probe, sending the lander on its trajectory toward Mars.