And we're there! Juno enters Jupiter's orbit; NASA celebrates success

Image courtesy: NASA/JPL

New Delhi: Amid energy, anticipation and nervousness levels running high, US space agency NASA, JPL and Lockheed Martin welcomed the Juno spacecraft as it entered Jupiter's orbit after five years.

The visuals on NASA's live TV captured the celebratory mood of the entire staff of the space agency, including SwRI's Director and Juno's principal investigator, Scott Bolton, applauding, hugging, cheering and congratulating each other.

NASA's JPL announced the official confirmation of Juno's orbit insertion as soon as it took place.

The burn time was within one second of the predicted time, putting it in the exact orbit that was desired.

Scott Bolton couldn't contain his happiness as he congratulated his team saying, “You’re the best team ever! We just did the hardest thing NASA has ever done!”

Engine burn complete and orbit obtained. I’m ready to unlock all your secrets, #Jupiter. Deal with it. — NASA's Juno Mission (@NASAJuno) July 5, 2016

Juno is the first solar-powered mission to Jupiter and its special instruments will help us gain access to the secrets that the planet has been hiding all this time, as well as provide an insight into the working of the solar system.

Applauding the #Juno orbital insertion success! pic.twitter.com/Jyha2Lw8hq — John Scalzi (@scalzi) July 5, 2016