NASA has an even bigger challenge in reconnecting with the MAVEN spacecraft. This particular spacecraft has been orbiting Mars for more than a decade. Unfortunately, over the weekend, the agency lost contact with MAVEN. This occurred right at a moment in time when the spacecraft was behind the planet, complicating efforts to re-link with it.
MAVEN, which stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, started its mission to understand the Martian atmosphere in September 2014. Launched in 2013, the spacecraft focused on understanding how Mars, once a wet and warm world, lost most of its atmosphere to space over eons. This atmospheric loss is mostly due to the solar wind, which has torn away the planet’s protective deflector shield.
The data collected by MAVEN has been instrumental in revealing the dynamics of the upper Martian atmosphere and its interaction with solar winds. This study provides the missing answers to why Mars became inhospitable to life. Now, it’s an arid and frigid planet.
MAVEN would go on to become instrumental in atmospheric investigations. In addition to this, it supported NASA’s two active rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance, by acting as a communication relay. These rovers have produced thousands of scientific discoveries that still today are helping to advance our understanding of Mars.
NASA officials reported that “Telemetry showed all subsystems working normally before it orbited behind Mars.” This line gets us right to the heart of why this loss of communication came as such a shock. The agency’s recent work to reverse the tide has been commendable and earnest.
“The spacecraft and operations teams are investigating the anomaly to address the situation. More information will be shared once it becomes available,” – NASA
As scientists await more information, they are optimistic that MAVEN will resume communication in the near future. It’s data collected from its ongoing mission that continues to shape the exploration to come. It tells us a lot about the Red Planet’s illustrious history and evolution.