Nasa announced this Wednesday the end of the Maven mission. The North American space agency was unable to reestablish contact with the probe after an anomaly recorded in December last year. The decision marks the end of more than 11 years of operations around Marte.
Maven, an acronym for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, was launched in November 2013. Ela far exceeded the initial expected deadline of one year. The orbiter arrived at Marte in September 2014 and collected data on the red planet’s atmosphere.
Sinal lost after passing behind Marte
The last communication with Maven occurred on December 6, 2025. The probe operated normally before switching to the dark side of Marte relative to Terra. When it reappeared, it no longer sent any signal.
Equipes of Nasa tried to reestablish contact for months. Usaram the Deep Space Network network and even asked the Curiosity rover to try to photograph the probe in orbit. Nenhuma attempt was successful.
The preliminary analysis indicated that the Maven went into safe mode and started to rotate at a higher speed than normal. Isso compromised the solar panels and drained the batteries. A review board confirmed that the probe is no longer salvageable.
Contribuições scientific studies that changed the understanding of Marte
Maven provided direct evidence of how Marte lost its atmosphere over time. The planet does not have a global magnetic field. Therefore, the solar wind has eroded gas layers over billions of years.
- The average rate of atmospheric loss remains constant, but varies depending on the distance from Marte to Sol
- Durante solar storms, gas loss can increase 10 to 20 times
- The probe detected ultraviolet auroras in non-polar regions of the planet
- Observou marked seasonal variations in water loss
- Mapeou winds in the upper Martian atmosphere
Esses results helped explain why Marte transformed from a possibly wet world to today’s cold desert. The data also served as a reference for understanding the atmospheres of other rocky planets.
Papel as rover data relay
Além of atmospheric science, Maven acted as an important communication link. Ela relayed information from the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers to Terra. In certain periods, it recorded records for the volume of data sent.
The mission generated more than 800 scientific publications. Pesquisadores from several institutions used the information set to model planetary evolution. Nasa will now archive the entire database for future queries.
Detalhes of the anomaly still under investigation
The exact cause of the failure remains under analysis. Engenheiros assess whether any specific component has failed after more than a decade in the harsh environment of space. Radiation and extreme thermal variations are common factors on long missions.
Mesmo formally closed, Nasa maintains that Maven has met and exceeded all key objectives. The agency plans to use lessons learned in designing future probes for Marte and other destinations.
Legado for future missions
The extended success of Maven reinforces the importance of robust designs. The probe operated well beyond what was planned and delivered results that influence the planning of manned missions. Dados on atmospheric loss helps assess the viability of future habitats on the planet.
Cientistas highlight that the complete Maven archive will continue to produce discoveries for years to come. Equipes are already planning new studies based on accumulated measurements.