Date: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 12:02:03 -0500 From: mark <whitroth at 5-cent.us> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: [WSFA] India's Mars mission spacecraft leaves Earth orbit Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net> Excerpt: India's Mars orbiter mission has left Earth's orbit after performing a manoeuvre to put it on its way to orbit the red planet. The spacecraft fired its main engine for more than 20 minutes to reach the correct velocity to leave the Earth's orbit, the Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation said. It said that all systems on board the spacecraft were performing normally. India launched its first spacecraft bound for Mars on 5 November, a complex mission that it hopes will demonstrate and advance technologies for space travel. --- end excerpt --- <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/01/india-mars-mission-mangalyaan-leaves-eath-orbit> mark