NASA Loses Contact with MAVEN Spacecraft: Signal Disappears December 6, 2025

December 11, 2025 — NASA has confirmed the complete loss of communication with the MAVEN orbiter (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN), which has been studying the Martian atmosphere from orbit since 2014.

The last successful telemetry was received on December 6, 2025. Engineers are actively working to re-establish contact and determine the cause of the anomaly.

What Is Known About the MAVEN Signal Loss So Far

• The final communication session ended normally
• Before disappearing, the spacecraft entered safe mode as planned
• Possible causes under investigation: software glitch, power system issue, or high-gain antenna failure
• NASA expects to release a detailed report in the coming days

MAVEN: 11 Years Exploring Why Mars Lost Its Atmosphere

Launched on November 18, 2013, and arriving at Mars on September 21, 2014, MAVEN’s primary goal has been to measure how quickly oxygen and hydrogen escape from the Martian atmosphere.

These data help scientists understand how the Red Planet lost most of its air and water over billions of years.

During its long mission, the spacecraft has repeatedly performed collision-avoidance maneuvers with Phobos — the largest moon of Mars. The most famous of these took place in March 2017.

Video. NASA | MAVEN: NASA’s Next Mission to Mars.

Will MAVEN Return? Latest Updates

Even if contact is never restored, the treasure trove of data collected over more than 11 years remains invaluable to science. However, the mission team continues recovery attempts around the clock.

We are monitoring the situation and will publish any official NASA updates about MAVEN immediately.

Sources: NASA.gov, MAVEN Mission Blog, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center