NASA has officially terminated its Maven mission following a half-year period without any communication from the Mars-orbiting probe.
The space agency announced Wednesday that the mission has concluded after more than ten years of atmospheric research around the red planet.
The spacecraft, which began its journey in 2013 to examine Mars’ atmospheric conditions from orbit, unexpectedly stopped communicating in early December when it moved behind the planet. Information from the probe showed it had entered an uncontrolled spinning motion, which altered its orbital path and depleted its power systems.
NASA assembled a review panel earlier this year that determined the spacecraft cannot be salvaged and is beyond repair. Officials continue investigating what triggered the malfunction.
During its operational period, Maven not only analyzed Martian atmospheric conditions and tracked a wandering interstellar comet in the previous year, but also served as a communication bridge for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers operating on Mars’ surface.
Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado Boulder, who served as Maven’s lead scientist, praised the spacecraft’s contributions, calling its findings “amazing discoveries.”
Maven “has truly advanced our understanding of the Martian atmosphere and evolution,” she said in a statement.
