Red Planet decoded: NASA spacecraft unravelling the mysteries of Mars

A NASA Mars orbiter has been busy since it arrived at the Red Planet late last month. NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN for short) is designed to probe Mars’ thin atmosphere, to help scientists understand what caused the planet to change from a warm, wet world long ago to the cold and dry one it is today. The spacecraft entered into orbit around Mars on Sept. 21, and it has already beamed back some amazing new data about Mars’ upper atmosphere, researchers said. In MAVEN’s first few weeks of instrument testing at the Red Planet, scientists have already created some of the most complete maps of atomic hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and ozone in the Martian atmosphere ever made. One of MAVEN’s instruments even collected data as energetic particles blasted out by a massive solar eruption made it to Mars.

What we’re seeing so far is really just a tantalizing teaser of what’s to come.

MAVEN principal investigator Bruce Jakosky

Scientists think that solar weather events could be partially responsible for the loss of the Martian atmosphere over time. Ground controllers are now moving MAVEN into its lower, science orbit in order to take more observations of the planet’s upper atmosphere and find out how some of it might be escaping into outer space. The probe should begin its primary science mission in about two weeks, NASA officials said. The $671 million MAVEN mission is also gearing up to watch a comet make a close flyby of the Red Planet on Oct. 19.

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