Due to a loss of communication, the 13-year space mission to Mars reaches its end.
NASA declared the end of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission, determining the satellite unrecoverable after it passed behind the red planet, lost its signal, and did not resume transmissions. The MAVEN mission launched in November, 2013, with the goal of exploring Mars’ atmosphere and its interactions with the sun to understand the planet’s loss of atmosphere to space.
“The science MAVEN has given us is key to informing what kind of radiation protection and safety measures we must take before sending humans to Mars,” said Director Louise Prockter of the planetary science division at NASA. “The data collected from MAVEN will continue to provide valuable insight into Mars for decades to come.”
The last communication from the satellite was received via NASA’s Deep Space Network on December 6th, 2025. While the circumstances are still under investigation, NASA theorized that the satellite’s batteries were drained due to higher-than-average rotational speeds.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Administrator Jared Isaacman be discerning as he heads NASA.
- For Director Prokter as she oversees NASA’s planetary science division.
- For NASA personnel investigating the MAVEN mission and recording the data received during its operation.
Sources: NASA, UPI News
