At a Glance
- NASA lost contact with MAVEN on Dec. 6 after an unexpected spin.
- The probe has orbited Mars since 2014 and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024.
- The next chance to reconnect is Jan. 16 because Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun.
- Why it matters: MAVEN provides critical data on Mars’ atmosphere and relays rover communications.
NASA has been unable to reestablish contact with the MAVEN probe since Dec. 6, and the first opportunity to try again isn’t until Jan. 16 because Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun.
What Happened
NASA lost signal with MAVEN on Dec. 6 when the spacecraft emerged from behind Mars. Analysis of the brief tracking fragment indicates the probe was spinning unexpectedly. No transmissions have been received since Dec. 4, and the anomaly is still under investigation.
- Lost signal on Dec. 6 after Mars occultation.
- Unexpected rotation detected in recovered data.
- No new transmissions since Dec. 4.
NASA stated:
> “We are investigating the anomaly.”
NASA later added:
> “Analysis of that signal suggests that the MAVEN spacecraft was rotating in an unexpected manner when it emerged from behind Mars.”
Mission Background
MAVEN, launched in 2013 and entered Mars orbit in 2014, was designed for a two-year mission but has operated for over a decade. It studies the planet’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and has relayed communications between the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers and Earth. In 2024 the probe celebrated its 10th anniversary in orbit.
- 10+ years of continuous operation.
- Key science: atmospheric loss, ionosphere, plasma studies.
- Relay for Curiosity and Perseverance.
Current Status and Next Steps
NASA is piecing together a timeline of events to determine what went wrong. The Deep Space Network will attempt to revive MAVEN on Jan. 16 when Earth and Mars line up again. Meanwhile, Curiosity attempted to photograph the probe on Dec. 16 and Dec. 20.
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 4 | Last known transmission | |
| Dec. 6 | Signal loss after Mars occultation | Spin anomaly detected |
| Dec. 9 | NASA statement on anomaly | |
| Dec. 16 | Curiosity images attempted | |
| Dec. 20 | Curiosity images attempted | |
| Dec. 23 | NASA timeline effort | |
| Jan. 16 | First reconnection opportunity | Earth-Mars alignment |
NASA said on Dec. 23:
> “We are attempting to piece together a timeline of events to figure out what went wrong.”
Key Takeaways
- MAVEN lost contact on Dec. 6 and remains silent.
- The probe’s unexpected spin may explain the anomaly.
- Reconnection attempts will not resume until Jan. 16 due to planetary geometry.
The prolonged silence of MAVEN underscores the challenges of deep-space communication and the importance of maintaining contact with Mars-orbiting assets.
