NASA has declared the MAVEN Mars orbiter mission officially over after six months of silence, ending more than 11 years of groundbreaking atmospheric research. The spacecraft lost contact in December 2025 after passing behind Mars, and all recovery attempts failed.
Launched in November 2013 and arriving at Mars in September 2014, MAVEN was designed to study the planet’s upper atmosphere and its evolution. Though planned for one year, the mission lasted over a decade, providing critical insights into how solar wind stripped Mars of its atmosphere.
Before going silent, MAVEN revealed key findings: unique auroras across Mars’ nightside, evidence of global dust storms accelerating water loss, and detailed interactions between the solar wind and Mars’ magnetosphere. It also served as a vital communications relay for the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
NASA confirmed MAVEN will remain in orbit for decades before eventually crashing into Mars, leaving behind a rich scientific legacy that will guide future human exploration.
