On September 22, 2014 the US “MAVEN” (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) space probe braked into orbit around Mars after a 10-month interplanetary cruise from Earth. Confirmation of a successful orbit insertion burn came at 02:25 UTC after a nail-biting 34-minute maneuver that kept engineers staring at data screens inside a control center at MAVEN contractor Lockheed Martin's facility in Denver. Working in concert with other missions at Mars, MAVEN will directly observe Siding Spring and gauge the Martian atmosphere's response to dust and gas spewed off by the comet.