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India successfully puts spacecraft into Martian orbit in a major showcase of its space program

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2013, file photo, Indian engineers work on the Mars orbiter spacecraft at the satellite center of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bangalore, India. The Indian spacecraft is due to slip into Martian orbit Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 (Wednesday morning in India). It's India's first interplanetary mission, and no nation has been fully successful getting to the red planet on its first try. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2013 file photo, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C25) rocket lifts off carrying India's Mars spacecraft from the east-coast island of Sriharikota, India. With home-grown technology and a remarkably low budget of about $75 million, India could become the first nation to conduct a successful Mars mission on its first try. If the Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, settles into orbit in the morning Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, as planned, the country will join the U.S., European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union in the elite club of Martian explorers. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2013 file photo, Indian Space and Research Organization Chairman, K. Radhakrishnan, poses for the media with a model of the Mars orbiter after its successful launch at Sriharikota, India. With home-grown technology and a remarkably low budget of about $75 million, India could become the first nation to conduct a successful Mars mission on its first try. If the Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, settles into orbit in the morning, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 as planned, the country will join the U.S., European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union in the elite club of Martian explorers. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K, File) (The Associated Press)

India has triumphed in its first interplanetary attempt by successfully putting a satellite into orbit around Mars.

Scientists broke into wild cheers Wednesday morning as the orbiter's engines completed 24 minutes of burn time and maneuvered into its designated place around the red planet.

The success of India's Mars Orbiter Mission, affectionately nicknamed MOM, brings India into an elite club of Martian explorers that includes United States, the European Space Agency and the former Soviet Union.

The Indian Space and Research Organisation described the mission as flawless.