NASA loses contact with the MAVEN spacecraft in Mars orbit.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has just announced that it lost contact with the MAVEN spacecraft on December 6th.

The image illustrates the MAVEN spacecraft flying over Mars (photo: NASA/GSFC).

MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), launched in 2013 and entering Mars orbit in September 2014, is one of seven orbiters actively observing the Red Planet.

The incident occurred while MAVEN was orbiting Mars normally. When the spacecraft reappeared, NASA's ground control center was unable to re-establish communication. Prior to the loss of contact, all of MAVEN's systems were functioning normally.

On December 9th, NASA announced it was investigating the cause and working to locate the spacecraft's signal. "Experts are investigating the unusual incident to resolve the situation," a NASA representative stated. "More details will be shared as we learn more."

MAVEN's primary mission is to study Mars' upper atmosphere and ionosphere, as well as their interaction with the solar wind.

By observing the rate and mechanisms of atmospheric loss, MAVEN has provided scientists with valuable data to better understand how Mars transformed from a wet planet into the arid, dusty place it is today.

This image of Mars under ultraviolet light was taken by the MAVEN spacecraft in 2023. The purple area is the north pole (image: NASA/LASP/CU Boulder).

Data from MAVEN has indicated that atmospheric loss is the primary cause of water loss on Mars. Water vapor is pushed high into the atmosphere during intense dust storms and then blown away by solar winds.

In addition, MAVEN has helped scientists map winds on Mars, discover the planet's invisible magnetic "tail," uncover the "eruption" mechanism that accelerates the loss of volatile elements from the atmosphere, and even reveal a new type of proton aurora.

These discoveries make a significant contribution to understanding planetary evolution, explaining why two worlds similar to Earth and Mars have developed different paths, leading to different levels of habitability.

MAVEN's data is also very useful for planning future Mars exploration missions.

More than just a research spacecraft, MAVEN plays a crucial role in the data relay network. It carries a UHF radio to connect NASA's surface exploration robots, such as Curiosity and Perseverance, with Earth.

The loss of contact with MAVEN is a worrying incident, as the spacecraft is crucial to ongoing operations on Mars. Finding the cause of the malfunction is essential to prevent similar risks for other spacecraft in the future.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/nasa-mat-lien-lac-voi-tau-vu-tru-maven-tren-quy-dao-sao-hoa-20251212041241763.htm