NASA ends MAVEN Mars orbiter mission after loss of contact

NASA has ended the MAVEN Mars orbiter mission after the spacecraft lost contact behind Mars in December 2025 despite reset attempts. Launched in 2013 to study how solar wind erodes Mars' atmosphere, MAVEN delivered major insights into atmospheric escape, including sputtering, and helped relay data for Curiosity and Perseverance. The probe will remain in Mars orbit for decades, but NASA will not attempt to reestablish communications.