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NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter, Investigating Communication Anomaly

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter, Investigating Communication Anomaly

NASA has lost contact with its Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014. The communication was lost on December 6, 2025, when MAVEN passed behind Mars, a routine part of its orbit. Despite normal operations before the event, NASA was unable to reestablish contact once the spacecraft re-emerged. MAVEN is one of seven orbiters currently studying Mars, focusing on the planet's upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The spacecraft has been instrumental in understanding atmospheric loss on Mars, contributing to theories about how Mars transitioned from a wet planet to its current dry state. NASA's operations teams are actively investigating the anomaly to restore communication.

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter, Impacting Communication with Martian Missions

NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Mars Orbiter, Impacting Communication with Martian Missions

NASA has lost contact with its MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter, a critical satellite for both scientific research and communication with Mars surface missions. The loss occurred on December 6, 2025, when the orbiter was on the far side of Mars, a situation that typically results in a temporary loss of signal. However, the Deep Space Network (DSN) failed to reestablish contact as expected. MAVEN, which launched in November 2013, has been instrumental in studying Mars' atmospheric evolution and serves as a communication relay for NASA's rovers, including Perseverance and Curiosity. NASA is currently investigating the anomaly to restore communication.

NASA's MAVEN Spacecraft Loses Contact While Orbiting Mars, Investigation Underway

NASA's MAVEN Spacecraft Loses Contact While Orbiting Mars, Investigation Underway

NASA has lost contact with the MAVEN spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014. The spacecraft, part of NASA's mission to study the Martian atmosphere, stopped communicating with ground stations on December 6 after it went behind the planet. MAVEN, which also serves as a communication relay for the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, was expected to reestablish contact after emerging from behind Mars, but no signal has been received. NASA is currently investigating the cause of the communication failure.

NASA loses contact with its Maven spacecraft orbiting Mars for the past decade

NASA loses contact with its Maven spacecraft orbiting Mars for the past decade

NASA has lost contact with a spacecraft that's been orbiting Mars for more than a decade

NASA Investigates MAVEN Spacecraft Signal Loss After Mars Orbit

NASA Investigates MAVEN Spacecraft Signal Loss After Mars Orbit

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014, experienced a loss of signal with Earth on December 6. Prior to the signal loss, telemetry indicated that all subsystems were functioning normally. The spacecraft lost contact after moving behind Mars, and upon re-emerging, the Deep Space Network failed to detect a signal. NASA teams are currently investigating the anomaly to determine the cause and address the issue. MAVEN's mission is to study Mars' upper atmosphere and its interactions with the Sun and solar wind, providing insights into the planet's atmospheric history and climate. The spacecraft also serves as a communications relay for Martian rovers.

NASA's MAVEN Mars Orbiter Loses Contact, Efforts to Reestablish Underway

NASA's MAVEN Mars Orbiter Loses Contact, Efforts to Reestablish Underway

NASA has lost contact with the MAVEN spacecraft, which is one of three missions currently orbiting Mars. The spacecraft, which serves as a communication relay for Mars rovers and studies the Martian atmosphere, went silent on December 6 after passing behind the planet. Despite routine expectations to regain contact, the Deep Space Network has been unable to reestablish communication. NASA is investigating the anomaly and working to determine the cause of the communication failure.

NASA's Perseverance Rover Records Electrical Discharge in Martian Dust Storms

NASA's Perseverance Rover Records Electrical Discharge in Martian Dust Storms

NASA's Perseverance rover has captured the first clear audio recording of electrical discharges within a Martian dust storm. The recordings, made by the rover's SuperCam microphone, reveal faint crackles and mini-sonic booms as dust devils swept across the surface of Mars. This data was collected inside Jezero Crater on September 6 and released by NASA on December 3. The phenomenon, long suspected by researchers, involves wind-blown dust on Mars building up enough static charge to spark, a process facilitated by Mars' thin atmosphere. The rover's findings confirm these theories, providing both visual and audio evidence of the electrified dust devils. The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Nature on November 26.

NASA's Curiosity Rover Conducts Extensive Drilling and Analysis on Mars

NASA's Curiosity Rover Conducts Extensive Drilling and Analysis on Mars

NASA's Curiosity rover has been actively conducting scientific experiments on Mars, focusing on drilling and analyzing samples from the Nevado Sajama region. The rover recently completed its 45th drill hole, with the CheMin and SAM instruments analyzing the samples. The team is utilizing an extended planning period to maximize scientific output, including ChemCam's seven LIBS measurements and Mastcam's 360-degree stereo mosaic. The rover is also monitoring the Martian environment for dust and atmospheric changes as the planet enters its dusty season.

International Space Station Celebrates 25 Years of Technological Advancements

International Space Station Celebrates 25 Years of Technological Advancements

NASA and its international partners are celebrating 25 years of continuous human habitation and technological advancements aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Since November 2000, the ISS has served as a platform for developing technologies crucial for future lunar and Mars missions. Key advancements include robotic technologies like the Canadarm2 and Astrobee free-flyers, which assist in satellite maintenance and space debris reduction. The station's life support systems recycle air and water, crucial for long-duration missions. Additionally, the ISS has advanced 3D printing technology, enabling the production of tools and parts in space, and has contributed to solar power research, improving energy efficiency for future missions.

NASA Investigates MAVEN Spacecraft Signal Loss Affecting Mars Mission

NASA Investigates MAVEN Spacecraft Signal Loss Affecting Mars Mission

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2014, experienced a loss of signal with Earth-based ground stations on December 6. Prior to the signal loss, telemetry data indicated that all subsystems were functioning normally. The spacecraft lost contact after moving behind Mars, and upon re-emerging, no signal was detected by NASA's Deep Space Network. The MAVEN mission, launched in November 2013, aims to study the Martian upper atmosphere and its interactions with solar wind, providing insights into the planet's atmospheric history and habitability. The spacecraft also serves as a communication relay for Mars rovers.

New Report Advocates for Human Missions to Mars to Search for Life

New Report Advocates for Human Missions to Mars to Search for Life

A new report titled 'A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars' has been published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report, co-chaired by Dava Newman from MIT and Linda T. Elkins-Tanton from UC Berkeley, outlines the scientific rationale for sending humans to Mars. It emphasizes the search for life as a primary objective, proposing a series of missions starting with a 30-day human landing followed by a longer 300-day mission. The report aims to align NASA's human spaceflight and science exploration programs, providing a framework for meaningful scientific exploration on Mars.

NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Returns to Earth After 245-Day Space Mission

NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim Returns to Earth After 245-Day Space Mission

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, has safely returned to Earth after completing a 245-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The crew landed in Kazakhstan after departing the ISS on the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft. During their mission, they conducted various scientific experiments, including studies on bioprinted tissues and remote robotic command. This mission marked the first spaceflight for Kim and Zubritsky, while Ryzhikov completed his third space journey.