NASA's MAVEN Spacecraft Faces Communication Issues at Mars

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has been silent since December 4, 2023, despite multiple attempts to contact it, as reported in an update on December 15. Tracking data recovered on December 6 indicates that MAVEN was rotating unexpectedly after emerging from behind Mars.

The frequency of the tracking signal suggests a change in MAVEN's orbital trajectory. MAVEN, which launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit ten months later, has provided crucial data about Mars' atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind.

During its prime mission, MAVEN contributed to understanding the loss of Mars' atmosphere, which once supported liquid water. The orbiter continues to play a critical role in communications between mission control and NASA's rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance.

Other orbiters, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, and the European Space Agency's Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, are still operational and will assist in communications for the next two weeks while MAVEN's condition remains uncertain.

NASA is coordinating efforts to adjust daily planning activities for the rovers to continue their scientific missions amidst the challenges posed by MAVEN's silence.