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NASA's MAVEN Spacecraft Goes Dark Before Solar Conjunction

12/25/2025

32 6

Summary

Story summary

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is unresponsive as it nears a solar conjunction, blocking contact with Mars missions until January 16, 2026.
The last communication on December 6 indicated MAVEN was tumbling and perhaps altering its orbit.
Curiosity's attempts to locate MAVEN were unsuccessful.
Without thruster firings, MAVEN's orbit will decay, leading to destruction in Mars' atmosphere.

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Story summary

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is unresponsive as it nears a solar conjunction, blocking contact with Mars missions until January 16, 2026.
The last communication on December 6 indicated MAVEN was tumbling and perhaps altering its orbit.
Curiosity's attempts to locate MAVEN were unsuccessful.
Without thruster firings, MAVEN's orbit will decay, leading to destruction in Mars' atmosphere.