
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA has lost contact with a spacecraft that has orbited Mars for more than a decade.
Maven abruptly stopped communicating to ground stations over the weekend. NASA said this week that it was working fine before it went behind the red planet. When it reappeared, there was only silence.
Launched in 2013, Maven began studying the upper Martian atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind once reaching the red planet the following year. Scientists ended up blaming the sun for Mars losing most of its atmosphere to space over the eons, turning it from wet and warm to the dry and cold world it is today.
Maven also has served as a communication relay for NASA’s two Mars rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance.
Engineering investigations are underway, according to NASA.
NASA has two other spacecraft around Mars that are still active: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2005, and Mars Odyssey, launched in 2001.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Pick Your #1 Kind Of Bread - 2
RFK Jr. says fewer flu shots for kids may be 'better.' What experts say. - 3
Top notch Feasting: A Manual for Worldwide Acclaimed Eateries - 4
Abbott issues US device correction for some glucose monitors over faulty readings risk - 5
5 Side interests That Work on Psychological wellness
Surprise! Saturn's huge moon Titan may not have a buried ocean after all
Purchases of iPhone 17 Pro soar across Gaza amid 'limited' humanitarian aid
Motivational Travel Objections for History Buffs
Watch South Korean startup Innospace attempt its 1st-ever orbital launch today
Court clears Beersheba assault suspect of link to Haymanut Kasau disappearance, extends detention
NASA Perseverance rover sees megaripples on Mars | Space photo of the day for Jan. 7, 2026.
The most effective method to Boost Benefits in Gold Speculation: Master Techniques and Tips
Flu season is underway. What are common symptoms to watch for?
Best Disney Palace: Which One Catches Your Creative mind?













