NASA officially declared the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft inactive on June 3, 2026, after the orbiter ceased communication in December 2025. Launched in 2013, the mission provided definitive data confirming that solar winds stripped away the Martian atmosphere billions of years ago. The probe remains in a stable orbit, joining a growing collection of defunct hardware circling the Red Planet.
Why do spacecraft become space debris around Mars?
Spacecraft become part of Mars’ orbital graveyard when they lose power or communication, as they lack the fuel to perform a controlled deorbit. According to Mike Moreau, project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the MAVEN probe was left in a “nominal” orbit. In this state, atmospheric drag will gradually decay the craft’s trajectory over the next 50 to 100 years until it eventually enters the Martian atmosphere and disintegrates.
Mars is home to both an orbital and a surface “graveyard.” While at least 12 spacecraft shells are estimated to be circling the planet, the surface is littered with retired hardware like the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, the Ingenuity helicopter, and the Chinese Zhurong rover.
How does the MAVEN mission compare to other Mars explorers?
The history of Mars exploration is split between mission longevity and eventual abandonment. Since 1971, 16 missions have successfully reached Martian orbit, but only six remain active today, including the European Space Agency’s Mars Express and China’s Tianwen-1. Unlike the active Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, which continue to transmit data from the surface, MAVEN joins the ranks of legacy orbiters that no longer report back to Earth.
Active vs. Inactive Missions
- Active Orbiters: Mars Odyssey, Mars Express (ESA), MRO, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (ESA), Hope (UAE), and Tianwen-1 (China).
- Inactive Orbiters: MAVEN and approximately 11 others, forming the current “orbital cemetery.”
What are the risks of abandoned orbital hardware?
The primary concern with dead satellites is the potential for orbital collisions. With multiple nations and agencies operating spacecraft around Mars, the density of objects increases the risk of accidents. NASA’s MAVEN previously performed a collision avoidance maneuver in February 2017 to steer clear of Phobos, one of the two Martian moons. As more missions arrive, tracking these “zombie” ships becomes increasingly difficult for ground control teams.
For those tracking current missions, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program provides real-time updates on active rovers and orbiters. Monitoring these updates is the best way to distinguish between ongoing science missions and legacy hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can NASA still control MAVEN now that it is inactive?
No. According to NASA, the team was unable to perform a controlled shutdown, and the spacecraft has not responded to attempts to re-establish contact since December 2025.
Will MAVEN crash into the surface of Mars?
Eventually, yes. Atmospheric drag will slow the probe over the next 50 to 100 years, causing it to descend into the Martian atmosphere where it will likely burn up, per NASA’s projection.
Why is the Martian atmosphere so thin?
Data from MAVEN confirmed that the loss of the planet’s global magnetic field allowed solar winds to strip away its atmosphere between 4.2 and 3.7 billion years ago, leaving it with only 1% of Earth’s atmospheric density.
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