NASA has lost contact with its Mars probe MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission), which has been studying Martian atmosphere since 2014.
No regular data has been received for around two weeks, and engineers suspect that the spacecraft may have rotated out of its correct alignment. A brief signal fragment was detected, but NASA is still attempting to re-establish full communication.
The probe went silent in early December, following a normal blackout period when it passed behind Mars, but failed to resume communication after re-emerging.
Meanwhile, NASA continues Mars exploration through:
- Mars Odyssey Orbiter
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Curiosity Rover
- Perseverance Rover
Relay duties previously handled by MAVEN are now temporarily shifted to other orbiters, including European spacecraft where required.
About MAVEN Mission
Purpose & Role
MAVEN’s primary objective:
- To study Mars’ thin upper atmosphere and ionosphere
- Observe how solar wind and sunlight interact with atmospheric particles
- Help scientists understand how Mars lost its early atmosphere and surface water
Additional role:
- Acts as a communication relay between Earth and surface rovers such as Curiosity & Perseverance
Recent Technical Issue
- MAVEN sent its last full system health report
- Two days later it passed behind Mars — a routine communications blackout
- After reappearing, no normal signal was detected
- NASA Deep Space Network identified:
- Unexpected spacecraft rotation
- Possible change in orbital parameters
Cause of anomaly — not yet identified
Scientific Work Done by MAVEN
- Orbits Mars every 3.5 hours
- Flies as close as 150 km above surface
- Measures gases, ions, solar wind & magnetic environment
- Samples atmospheric variations by:
- Time of day
- Season
- Solar activity
Key Scientific Findings
- Mars has lost about two-thirds of its early atmosphere to space
- Loss accelerated due to lack of global magnetic field
Mission Timeline
- Launched — November 2013
- Mars Orbit Insertion — September 2014
- Designed for 2-year mission, but operating for over a decade
- Part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program
Instruments on MAVEN
Three major scientific payload suites:
- Solar Wind Interaction Package: Studies how solar wind strips away atmospheric particles
- Ultraviolet Spectrometer: Observes upper atmospheric composition & escape processes
- Mass Spectrometer: Analyzes gases in upper atmosphere & traces evolution
India Connection
- ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, shortly after MAVEN
- MOM was a technology demonstrator mission
- MAVEN was a full-scale atmospheric science mission
- Both missions contributed significantly to Mars research, though with different objectives & instruments
Significance of MAVEN Loss
- Affects atmospheric science data continuity
- Impacts communications relay support for Mars rovers
- NASA currently using alternate relay orbiters
About Mars
- Also called: Red Planet
- Length of a Martian year: 687 Earth days
- Largest volcano: Olympus Mons
- Largest canyon: Valles Marineris
NASA Mars Missions
- Pathfinder (Sojourner Rover)– 1997
- Spirit & Opportunity Rovers– 2004
- Phoenix Lander– 2008
- Curiosity Rover– 2012
- MAVEN Orbiter– 2014
- Perseverance Rover– 2021
- Ingenuity Helicopter– First powered flight on another planet
India – Mars Mission
- Mangalyaan (MOM) — First Asian mission to reach Mars orbit in first attempt