Why is it in News?
→ NASA lost contact with MAVEN spacecraft orbiting Mars.
→ Mission provided crucial data on atmospheric loss of Mars.
Important Points
- First mission dedicated to studying Mars’ upper atmosphere.
- Part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
- Launched in November 2013.
- Arrived at Mars in September 2014.
- Orbits Mars every 3.5 hours.
- Closest approach of 150 km to Mars surface.
- Studies atmospheric escape to space.
- Found Mars lost about two-thirds of its early atmosphere.
- Carries three instrument packages.
- Includes solar wind, ultraviolet spectrometer and mass spectrometer.