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After more than a decade of groundbreaking research, NASA has officially declared its MAVEN spacecraft at Mars non-operational following six months of radio silence.
Launched in 2013, MAVEN was designed to study the Martian atmosphere from orbit, providing valuable insights into the planet’s climate and evolution. However, in early December, the spacecraft mysteriously went silent after passing behind Mars. Subsequent data revealed that MAVEN had entered a rapid spin, which disrupted its orbit and drained its batteries, rendering it inoperable.
A NASA review board convened earlier this year determined that the spacecraft cannot be recovered. While the investigation into the root cause is ongoing, the mission has now been concluded.
During its mission, MAVEN not only enhanced our understanding of Martian weather but also played a key role in relaying communications for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the planet’s surface. It even observed an interstellar comet passing through the solar system last year.
Shannon Curry, MAVEN’s lead scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, praised the mission’s contributions, saying it made “amazing discoveries” and significantly advanced knowledge of Mars’ atmosphere and its evolution over time.