NASA has shared striking details regarding the loss of contact with its MAVEN spacecraft in Mars orbit, occurring approximately two weeks after a close encounter with the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS.
The space agency reported that MAVEN suddenly went silent on December 4th while observing the mysterious object, which NASA classifies as a comet.
3I/ATLAS, already a subject of public debate after Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb claimed it could be “an alien spacecraft,” has once again become a trending topic on social media following MAVEN’s silence.
Some users interpreted MAVEN’s malfunction as being “silenced by extraterrestrials.”
What Happened to MAVEN?
MAVEN, which has been in Mars orbit since 2014, also serves as a communications relay for exploration vehicles on the Red Planet. According to NASA, the probe passed behind Mars while tracking the interstellar object, and when it re-emerged into Earth’s line of sight, it unexpectedly stopped transmitting data while simultaneously beginning to exhibit unusual rotational movement.
The agency stated that this event on Mars’s far side may have also affected MAVEN’s orbit. However, since direct contact with the spacecraft cannot be established, the problem can only be analyzed through fragmentary tracking data. NASA emphasized that the orbital change cannot be definitively determined until MAVEN resumes sending signals.
MAVEN reportedly captured a series of photographs when 3I/ATLAS passed near Mars in October. However, these images were criticized for their low quality.
“No Connection to 3I/ATLAS”
While the NASA probe has experienced minor technical issues in the past, officials stated this is the first time in the last decade that a malfunction may have completely disabled the craft and potentially disrupted its orbit.
The incident has sparked numerous speculations on social media. Some users suggested the communication blackout was related to 3I/ATLAS making its closest approach to Earth on Friday.
NASA clarified that MAVEN’s problems are not related to 3I/ATLAS. Nevertheless, claims emerged that “actual photographs are being withheld” due to the blurry images captured near Mars.
Meanwhile, even the skeptical Prof. Avi Loeb reminded that NASA had already shared some photographs taken during MAVEN’s close encounter with 3I/ATLAS in October. Loeb also emphasized that 3I/ATLAS was not near MAVEN at the time of the malfunction.
Closest Approach on December 19th
3I/ATLAS will reach its closest position to our planet during its journey through the Solar System on December 19th, passing at approximately 273 million kilometers from Earth.
Loeb notes that even if MAVEN remains offline, the object will be close enough to be observed and photographed by amateur astronomers using ordinary telescopes.
Largest Planetary Defense Exercise
Meanwhile, more than 23 countries in Europe are actively tracking the interstellar visitor as part of history’s largest planetary defense exercise. Loeb argued that with so many observatories operational, there is no possibility of any “information concealment.”
