A NASA Spacecraft Orbiting Mars Just Mysteriously Went Offline

Published: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 8:09 pm

NASA Spacecraft MAVEN Goes Silent, Raising Concerns for Mars Missions

Washington D.C. - NASA is currently investigating a communication failure with its Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft, which has gone offline. The spacecraft, designed to study the Martian upper atmosphere and facilitate communication between Earth and surface missions, was expected to transmit data back to Earth on December 6th, but the signal was not received by NASA's Deep Space Network.

MAVEN, launched in late 2013 and arriving at Mars a year later, plays a crucial role in relaying communications for missions on the Martian surface. It is one of four spacecraft that perform this function, alongside the European Space Agency's Exomars Trace Orbiter and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey.

This isn't the first time MAVEN has experienced difficulties. In 2022, the spacecraft spent three months in safe mode due to issues with its Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), which are essential for maintaining orientation in space. The team resolved the issue by switching to stellar navigation.

The current situation raises concerns about the potential impact on ongoing and future Mars missions. The Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, a new project designed to provide advanced communications with Mars, was recently allocated a budget of $700 million. However, its launch date remains uncertain.

BNN's Perspective: The temporary loss of communication with MAVEN underscores the inherent challenges of deep space exploration. While setbacks are inevitable, the reliance on aging infrastructure highlights the need for continued investment in space technology and the development of more robust communication systems to ensure the success of future Mars missions.

Keywords: NASA, MAVEN, Mars, spacecraft, communication, anomaly, Deep Space Network, Mars missions, atmosphere, Inertial Measurement Units, Mars Telecommunications Orbiter

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