US space agency NASA has landed a new robot on Mars after a dramatic seven‑minute plunge to the surface of the Red Planet.

The InSight probe aims to study the deep interior of Mars, and make it the only planet ‑ apart from Earth ‑ that has been examined in this way.

It ended an anxious seven minutes in which the robot radioed home updates on its descent.

NASA's mission control in California erupted with delight when it became clear InSight was safe on the ground.

Engineers are currently awaiting a health report and a picture from the probe that shows its surroundings.

These should be returned to Earth in the next few hours.

[Source: BBC]