NASA Loses Contact with Mars Orbiter and Faces Critical Fuel Shortage on Another
NASA is currently facing a concerning situation with its fleet of Mars orbiters. The agency confirmed it has lost communication with one of its three spacecraft currently circling the Red Planet. Additionally, another orbiter is nearing a critical fuel limit, risking operational failure, while the third has exceeded its planned mission lifespan.
The affected spacecraft, MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), was last responsive on December 6. Prior to losing contact, telemetry indicated all systems functioned normally as it went behind Mars. Once it reemerged from behind the planet, NASA’s Deep Space Network did not detect any signals, raising questions about a possible anomaly.
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Experts highlight that spacecraft can encounter communication disruptions due to technical issues or environmental factors like solar interference. NASA’s team is actively investigating the incident to determine the cause and assess the mission’s future. The agency has assured that further updates will be provided once more information is available.
This development underscores the challenges of deep space exploration, where even well-planned missions can face unexpected hurdles. The situation with NASA’s Mars orbiters prompts questions about mission sustainability and the importance of redundancy in planetary exploration strategies.
David Nield
Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.