Communication Lost with Mars Atmospheric Research Spacecraft
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has lost communication with its MAVEN spacecraft, which has been conducting atmospheric research in Mars orbit since September 2014.
Last Signals Showed Normal Operations
According to NASA’s statement, telemetry data sent by the spacecraft before passing behind Mars indicated that all subsystems were operating normally. However, after MAVEN emerged from behind the planet on December 6, no signals were received by NASA’s Deep Space Network.
NASA announced that efforts are ongoing to determine the cause of the communication interruption with the spacecraft. The agency stated that updates will be shared with the public as new information becomes available.
MAVEN’s Critical Mission to Mars
Launched in November 2013, MAVEN entered Mars orbit in September 2014. The spacecraft’s primary objective is to study Mars’ upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the Sun and solar wind to understand the planet’s atmospheric loss.
Understanding Mars’ Past Climate
Scientists emphasize that understanding how and at what rate the atmosphere escapes into space provides critical information about Mars’ past climate, water presence, and habitability potential.
Dual Role in Mars Exploration
Beyond its scientific mission, MAVEN also serves as a communication relay for exploration vehicles on the Martian surface. The spacecraft celebrated its 10th year in Mars orbit last year.
