(NewsNation) — NASA has officially declared the MAVEN spacecraft disabled after months of no communication.
MAVEN (short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) has been orbiting Mars for 11 years, contributing to countless discoveries.
In December, the agency lost contact with MAVEN as the probe passed Mars on its normal orbit. When it was expected to reappear, NASA was unable to detect a signal.
What's out there in space? Why is the Vatican studying the stars?
The spacecraft is believed to have failed due to a dead battery, but the cause of the battery drain is still unknown.
Preliminary data showed that MAVEN was orbiting at an unusually high speed when it reappeared from behind Mars.
The MAVEN spacecraft began orbiting Mars on September 21, 2014, completing approximately 6.6 orbits per day while studying the planet's atmosphere.
Researchers used MAVEN data to identify a previously unknown phenomenon in Mars' atmosphere, suggesting the planet may be more protected from solar radiation than previously thought. MAVEN data also provided the first direct evidence of the gradual erosion of the planet's atmosphere.
A NASA telescope has discovered a black hole that formed before its galaxy.
These discoveries, along with other information about Mars' atmosphere, will play a vital role in understanding how humans might one day land on the surface of Mars.
After losing contact earlier this year, NASA convened an investigation board that concluded the spacecraft was not recoverable.
© 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and live video, visit NewsNation.