Siding Spring came within about 126,000 miles per hour of the Red Planet ; that 's close for a comet flyby . It made observations of the comet before sheltering behind Mars , NASA said in a news release . Siding Spring protected its spacecraft orbiting the planet by having them hide . The first of three NASA orbiters reported to be in good health .
Siding Spring came within about 126,000 miles per hour of the Red Planet ; that 's close for a comet flyby . Siding Spring protected its spacecraft orbiting the planet by having them hide . The first of three NASA orbiters reported to be in good health .