Joe Palka
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
There was no indication MAVEN was having any technical problems earlier this month when its orbit took it behind Mars, out of sight from Earth-based antennas.
But when it came back into view, no signal came from the probe's radio.
Tracking data suggested the spacecraft might be rotating and that its orbit might have changed, but there was no apparent reason why.
NASA has tried to use the camera on the rover Curiosity to capture a picture of the orbiter from the Martian surface, but so far, no luck.
Future rescue efforts face an orbital problem.
Starting December 29th, the Sun will be between the Earth and Mars, making communication between the two planets impossible for about three weeks.
There was no indication MAVEN was having any technical problems earlier this month when its orbit took it behind Mars, out of sight from Earth-based antennas.
But when it came back into view, no signal came from the probe's radio.
Tracking data suggested the spacecraft might be rotating and that its orbit might have changed, but there was no apparent reason why.
NASA has tried to use the camera on the rover Curiosity to capture a picture of the orbiter from the Martian surface, but so far, no luck.
Future rescue efforts face an orbital problem.
Starting December 29th, the sun will be between the Earth and Mars, making communication between the two planets impossible for about three weeks.
It's pretty easy to describe what scientists hope to learn from MAVEN.
The MAVEN mission is about understanding the history of the climate on Mars.
Bruce Joukowsky was MAVEN's principal investigator when it went into orbit in 2014.
Mars is now a cold, arid planet, hostile to life.
But scientists believe it was once wet and warm and potentially habitable.