NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft, which has been studying the effects of solar wind on Mars’ atmosphere, encountered an issue six months ago during its routine passage behind the planet and has since lost all communication with Earth. The probe, which had been functioning normally prior to this event, was unable to re-establish contact after a 20- to 30-minute period when it was out of reach.
On Wednesday, agency representatives announced that after extensive attempts to remotely reboot MAVEN’s onboard computer and encourage it to send a signal back home, they concluded that the $582 million mission had come to an unfortunate end. Mike Moreau, project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, stated, “Our last successful communication with MAVEN occurred on December 6, 2025.” He noted that all systems were functioning properly when the spacecraft entered its scheduled occultation behind Mars.
Moreau explained that there were no signs of trouble leading up to the loss of signal, but when MAVEN emerged from behind Mars on December 6, the Deep Space Network failed to detect any signals. Attempts to send commands to the spacecraft without confirmation of its status were unsuccessful.
“Regrettably, after numerous efforts to regain communication with MAVEN, we have received no telemetry or signals since December 6,” Moreau added.
Launched on November 18, 2013, MAVEN—an acronym for the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission—successfully entered orbit around Mars in the following September. The probe was equipped with advanced instruments intended to analyze the Martian atmosphere, focusing on how it is eroded by solar wind particles.
Originally planned for a one-year mission, MAVEN’s research timeline was extended multiple times, allowing for the most comprehensive examination of Mars’ atmosphere to date. The mission has revealed that Mars once had a much warmer and wetter climate, although the current atmospheric pressure is insufficient for liquid water to exist on the surface. MAVEN’s findings have significantly advanced our understanding of how solar wind has gradually stripped away the Martian atmosphere over billions of years.
“One of our most exciting discoveries utilized 11 years of MAVEN data to identify an atmospheric escape mechanism called ‘sputtering’ for the first time on any planet,” remarked Shannon Curry, the principal investigator from the University of Colorado at Boulder. “This phenomenon involves charged particles impacting the upper atmosphere, causing neutral particles to be ejected, akin to a cannonball splashing water in a pool.” Curry emphasized that this process has been a primary means of atmospheric loss for billions of years, which holds important implications for other planets in our solar system and for exoplanets.
In addition to its atmospheric studies, MAVEN played a crucial role in relaying signals from NASA’s two functional Mars rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance, back to mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, alongside three other orbiters that provide similar support.
Despite MAVEN exceeding its intended mission duration, NASA is investigating the cause of the communication failure to extract lessons for future missions. In February, the agency established an anomaly review board to determine the underlying issues.
As part of this inquiry, engineers examined data from the Deep Space Network to ascertain what signals might have been received when MAVEN re-emerged from behind Mars. Although standard telemetry was absent, they detected fragments indicating the spacecraft was rotating at a rate of 2.7 revolutions per minute, a deviation from its normal operation.
Under typical circumstances, MAVEN would maintain a fixed orientation to keep its solar panels directed toward the sun and its antenna aimed at Earth. The observed rotation rate would likely have hindered communication and reduced power generation capability, leading to a rapid depletion of the probe’s batteries.
Moreau refrained from speculating on the specifics of what occurred during the loss of communication, expressing anticipation for the investigation’s findings. He noted that the detected rotation rate was not conducive to the spacecraft’s survival. MAVEN is expected to remain in its orbit around Mars for the next 50 to 100 years, but no further attempts will be made to re-establish contact.
Reflecting on the mission, Curry remarked, “Leading this team has been both a privilege and an honor. The team has worked diligently on operating the spacecraft and producing outstanding scientific results. Their vision, tenacity, and curiosity have led to remarkable discoveries. I will greatly miss both the spacecraft and this incredible team.” When asked what should be inscribed on MAVEN’s memorial, Curry replied, “Best Mars mission ever.”
