Posted: Sat, Nov 17, 2001, 4:08 AM ET (0908 GMT)
NASA's Genesis spacecraft entered orbit around the Earth-Sun L1 point Friday, project managers reported. Genesis fired its thrusters for 268 seconds starting at 2:03 pm EST (1903 GMT), successfully entering a halo orbit around L1. Genesis will spend the next two and a half years there collecting and analyzing the solar wind. Solar wind collection is scheduled to begin late this month. In early 2004 Genesis will leave the L1 point, flying by Earth in September 2004. The spacecraft will release a return capsule carrying the samples; the capsule is designed to be captured in midair over Utah.

Related Links:

•  NASA/JPL press release