NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft lost communication with Earth on December 6, 2023, after a routine maneuver behind Mars. Despite ongoing attempts to re-establish contact, NASA planetary science division director Louise Prockter stated on January 13 that recovery of the orbiter is considered "very unlikely." Efforts to reconnect were set to resume following the conclusion of a Mars solar conjunction period on January 16.
Communication Loss and Initial Observations
The MAVEN spacecraft failed to send telemetry signals to NASA's Deep Space Network after emerging from behind Mars on December 6. Tracking data fragments from a radio science campaign conducted on the same day suggested the spacecraft was rotating unexpectedly and had deviated from its planned orbit. Telemetry prior to the communication blackout indicated normal system operations.
Investigation and Contact Attempts
Following the initial loss of contact, NASA reported on December 12 that MAVEN appeared to be rotating in an unexpected manner. A December 23 update confirmed that efforts to recontact the spacecraft were continuing. The MAVEN team has been analyzing the tracking data to identify the root cause of the issue and establish a timeline of events. Additionally, the Mastcam instrument on the Curiosity rover made two unsuccessful attempts to image MAVEN during its expected passes overhead.
Impact of Solar Conjunction
From December 29 to January 16, NASA temporarily suspended communications with all Mars missions due to a solar conjunction. During this period, the Sun was positioned between Earth and Mars, which can potentially corrupt radio signals. With the conclusion of this blackout on January 16, NASA was prepared to resume contact attempts with MAVEN.
MAVEN's Mission and Contributions
Launched in November 2013, MAVEN entered Mars orbit in September 2014 to study the planet's upper atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind. The mission, originally planned for one year, celebrated its 10th anniversary in September 2024. MAVEN has provided data regarding Mars' atmospheric loss, dust storms, winds, and auroras.
Beyond its scientific objectives, MAVEN also serves as a communications relay, transmitting data between Earth and surface missions, including NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. MAVEN has sufficient fuel to remain in orbit until at least 2030, and its mission had been formally extended through September 2025.
Past Technical Issues
In 2022, MAVEN experienced a three-month period in safe mode due to issues with its inertial measurement units (IMUs), which are critical for determining the spacecraft's orientation. In response, the mission team accelerated the development of an "all-stellar" navigation mode to reduce reliance on the aging IMU hardware.
Alternative Communication and Future Plans
With MAVEN offline, three other spacecraft remain available to relay communications between Mars missions and Earth: NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, and the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars Express. NASA has adjusted rover operations to increase reliance on these remaining orbiters, which includes scheduling additional passes and modifying daily plans for Curiosity and Perseverance.
The development of a future Mars Telecommunications Orbiter has been revived, with its inclusion in a recent bill; however, its launch timeline remains uncertain.