The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has lost contact with the Mars probe Maven. The agency clarified that as of December 4, no regular data had been received from the investigation. In an attempt to restore communications, experts recorded a sporadic signal on December 6 but were unable to establish two-way communication with the device.
Evaluation of the data revealed serious problems: the probe not only rotated unexpectedly, but also changed its orbit around Mars. The reason for this remains unclear, German news agency DPA reported. However, NASA has not given up on the probe and continues to try to restore radio contact with it.
The probe, launched in late 2013, has been orbiting Mars for more than a decade and is providing important research data about the planet's atmosphere. At the same time, Maven serves to maintain contact with the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. Now, NASA's remaining Mars Odyssey and Mars Renaissance Orbiter satellites will fill the gap, while Europe's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter also continues to orbit the neighboring planet.
