NASA just lost contact with a Mars orbiter, and will soon lose another one

NASA has reported a loss of communication with one of its three spacecraft currently orbiting Mars. The agency revealed this concerning update on Tuesday, as another orbiter nears the end of its fuel supply. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft was last in contact on December 6, when telemetry indicated that all systems were functioning normally before it moved behind the planet. Upon its re-emergence, however, no signals were detected by NASA’s Deep Space Network. Ground control teams are actively investigating this anomaly and have promised to provide updates as more information becomes available. MAVEN, which has been operational since arriving at Mars in September 2014, is the most recent addition to NASA's fleet of Mars orbiters. This robotic mission was designed to explore the interactions between solar activity and the Martian atmosphere. Throughout its mission, MAVEN has made significant discoveries, including insights into how solar wind has eroded the Martian atmosphere over billions of years, transforming it from a potentially habitable environment into the cold, barren landscape observed today. The spacecraft's scientific instruments have provided valuable data on the composition of the atmosphere, including the processes that have stripped away much of its air and water. In addition to its scientific contributions, MAVEN has played a crucial role in NASA’s Mars relay network, facilitating communication between surface rovers and mission control back on Earth. Should MAVEN remain unresponsive, NASA has two other operational orbiters that can continue the mission’s objectives.