The silence from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter has sent ripples of concern through the
space science community. After more than a decade of service studying the Martian atmosphere, MAVEN went dark in early
December, leaving NASA engineers scrambling to re-establish contact. While backup systems are in place, the potential
loss of this long-serving spacecraft highlights the inherent risks of deep-space exploration and the critical role these
orbiters play in understanding the Red Planet.
MAVEN, launched in 2013, arrived at Mars in 2014 with a primary mission: to unravel the mystery of Mars' atmospheric
loss. Billions of years ago, Mars is believed to have been a warmer, wetter world. Where did all the water go? MAVEN was
designed to investigate how solar wind and radiation stripped away much of Mars' early atmosphere, transforming it into
the cold, dry desert we see today. The orbiter focused on characterizing the composition and structure of the upper
atmosphere and ionosphere, observing how they interact with the Sun. These observations provided crucial data for
understanding the processes that drove Mars' climate evolution. To fully understand the relevance of this mission, it's
important to grasp the basics of atmospheric science, a field that helps us understand the forces which shape the
The loss of contact occurred after a routine communication blackout as MAVEN passed behind Mars. While such blackouts
are expected, the spacecraft failed to reconnect afterward. Initial analysis of fragmented tracking data suggests an
unexpected rotation and a possible change in orbit, hinting at a potential malfunction that could be affecting the
spacecraft's ability to communicate or maintain its orientation. The exact cause remains unknown, and NASA is dedicating
resources to diagnosing the problem and attempting to restore contact.
Beyond its scientific contributions, MAVEN has also served as a vital communication relay for Mars rovers on the
surface, including Curiosity and Perseverance. It has been instrumental in relaying data collected by these rovers back
to Earth, effectively acting as a Martian satellite internet provider. With MAVEN offline, this crucial relay function
now falls to other orbiters, primarily the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Mars Odyssey. The European Space
Agency's Mars orbiters can also be utilized if needed. While these orbiters are capable of handling the relay duties,
the loss of MAVEN reduces redundancy and could potentially impact the efficiency of data transfer from the rovers. This
highlights the importance of robust communication networks in deep space exploration.
It's important to understand that MAVEN's mission was originally designed for a two-year duration. The fact that it has
operated for over a decade is a testament to the engineering and mission operations teams. However, the harsh
environment of space takes its toll on spacecraft over time, and component failures are inevitable. The unexpected
rotation and potential orbit change suggest a possible hardware malfunction, but further investigation is needed to
determine the root cause.
While the loss of MAVEN is a setback, it does not halt Mars exploration. The ongoing missions of Curiosity and
Perseverance continue to yield valuable scientific discoveries, and the remaining orbiters will ensure that their data
reaches Earth. However, the incident underscores the challenges and risks inherent in operating spacecraft in deep space
and the importance of continued investment in robust and redundant systems. It also serves as a reminder of the vital
role these orbiters play, not just in scientific discovery, but also in supporting surface missions and expanding our
understanding of our solar system. The incident with MAVEN also highlights the importance of understanding the broader
context of prior Mars research, which helps to inform current and future missions.