19 Quotes by Jim Graf

We're getting into the dangerous portion of the mission. Now we're starting to enter into the realm where we've lost two spacecraft in the last 15 years.

We're on the money right now. But we are getting into the dangerous portion of the mission. A lot can go wrong, and if we don't succeed, we will fly right by the planet.

Our spacecraft has finally become an orbiter. The celebration feels great, but it will be very brief because before we start our main science phase, we still have six months of challenging work to adjust the orbit to the right size and shape.

We have a tremendous amount of anxiety and concern at this particular point in time.

We have a tremendous amount of anxiety and concern. At the same time, I feel confident. We have a very good spacecraft that has been performing extraordinarily well. We have an excellent well-trained team that's ready to go forward.

We have been preparing for years for the critical events the spacecraft must execute on Friday.

There is risk every time we enter the atmosphere, and we are fortunate to have Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey with their daily global coverage helping us watch for changes that could increase the risk.

Each time you dip into the atmosphere, you have to be very attentive because if you dip in too far ... it can be detrimental to the spacecraft, ... We have an atmosphere we don't fully understand. ... There are a lot of people who lose a lot of sleep.

The team did a great job of planning and implementing the acquisition of these very difficult images.