NASA loses contact with key Martian satellite MAVEN: what it means.

According to ТСН: NASA has lost contact with one of its three satellites in orbit around Mars — the MAVEN spacecraft, which disappeared behind the planet. While such a signal loss is expected, the DSN network has been unable to reacquire the signal, and operational teams are investigating this issue, which may threaten scientific research.

NASA teams are trying to re-establish contact with MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) — one of the agency's key interplanetary spacecraft, which has been operating in Martian orbit for over 10 years. MAVEN also plays an important role in relaying signals for rovers on the planet's surface.

Communication Issues

Problems arose when NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) lost contact with MAVEN as it passed behind Mars. Although a brief signal disappearance in such conditions is commonplace, the spacecraft should have re-established contact after appearing from behind the planet. However, as reported by NASA, the DSN has been unable to regain the signal.

“The spacecraft teams and operational groups are investigating the anomaly to resolve the situation.”

MAVEN History

MAVEN was launched in November 2013 on an ULA Atlas V rocket. The spacecraft is equipped with instruments for studying changes in the Martian atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind. It successfully entered Martian orbit and has been operating since then.

In addition to scientific tasks, MAVEN plays a vital role in maintaining communication between Mars and Earth along with other NASA projects and European spacecraft. This interaction allows continuous data transmission for the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers.

Next Steps

Before the signal loss, MAVEN was operating normally and moving along its planned trajectory. If the orbit remains unchanged, NASA and DSN specialists will continue attempts to restore contact by sending commands along the spacecraft's predicted path and determining the cause of the failure.

NASA has indicated that it will provide updated information about MAVEN's status as soon as it becomes available.

Meanwhile, four NASA volunteers have been in complete isolation for over a month in the Mars Dune Alpha module in Houston as part of the year-long CHAPEA mission. This mission simulates conditions for a Mars flight, where the crew performs various tasks, tends to plants, and trains in an environment resembling the Martian landscape.

The loss of contact with MAVEN could have significant implications for scientific research around Mars and for communication with rovers performing their missions on the planet's surface. The observations and research carried out by MAVEN help to better understand the planet's atmosphere and climate, so specialists are working to restore contact to avoid losing crucial data.