The American space probe, Mariner 9, has become the first spacecraft to orbit another planet, swinging into its planned trajectory around Mars without a hitch.
An engine burn at 2337 GMT put the craft into an elliptical orbit around the Red Planet set to take it within 800 miles (1,290 km) of the surface.
Three previous missions, Mariners 4, 6 and 7, have flown past Mars, but none has gone nearer than 2000 miles (3,200 km).
Mariner 9 is due to circle the planet twice a day for three months, sending back more than 5000 pictures covering 70% of the surface