The space agency lost communication with the MAVEN probe (short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) on Dec. 6, and efforts to re-establish a connection have been futile. Based on bits of data received that day, mission controllers think the probe was spinning unexpectedly.

NASA now has to wait until Jan. 16 before it can again try to revive MAVEN, because Mars and Earth have been on opposite sides of the sun since Monday, resulting in a prolonged communications blackout.

Overall, it’s not looking promising for one of NASA’s workhorse missions.

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[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It’s quite dead judging by the data we currently have. Nothing short of a miracle will save MAVEN.

[–] 123@programming.dev 2 points 3 months ago

Maybe the GRADLE (Go Roll And Do Little Else) probe will come to the rescue.

(Not a real thing, just a Java-ism).

[–] jwt@programming.dev 4 points 3 months ago

"My battery is low and it's getting dark"