NASA announced Wednesday that the MAVEN spacecraft mission studying Mars' atmosphere and evolution has ended. The agency declared the 582 million dollar orbiter unrecoverable and is decommissioning the satellite after losing contact with it for nearly six months.
The spacecraft, which entered Martian orbit in 2014, fell silent in December after passing behind the planet. Data indicates the spacecraft entered a fast spin that disrupted its orbit and drained the onboard batteries. A review board concluded the spacecraft is useless and cannot be recovered, although an investigation into the cause of the loss continues.
Launched in 2013, MAVEN was designed for a one- to two-year mission but operated for more than a decade. During its tenure, it studied Martian weather, observed a stray interstellar comet, and helped relay information from the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the surface. Lead scientist Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado Boulder said the spacecraft made amazing discoveries and truly advanced the understanding of the Martian atmosphere and evolution.
The end of the mission has had a deep impact on the team, with one member noting that they have experienced the loss of a loved one.