1.52
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
227,388,763 km
12 years, 130 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
2,454
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Mars
MAVEN is a orbiter mission by NASA / GSFC targeting Mars. Launched November 18, 2013. Currently 1.52 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT MAVEN
MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) is studying how Mars lost its atmosphere and water over billions of years. It discovered that the solar wind is stripping away Mars’s atmosphere at a rate of about 100 grams per second, accelerated during solar storms. MAVEN also serves as a telecommunications relay for Mars rovers.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Solar wind stripped Mars of most of its atmosphere
- Mars loses about 100 grams of atmosphere per second to space
- Auroras detected on Mars
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First mission dedicated to studying Mars upper atmosphere
- Also serves as communications relay for Mars surface missions
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (8)
NGIMS (Neutral gas/ion mass spectrometer)
IUVS (UV spectrograph)
STATIC (Suprathermal/thermal ion)
SWIA (Solar wind ion analyzer)
SWEA (Solar wind electron analyzer)
MAG (Magnetometer)
SEP (Solar energetic particle)
LPW (Langmuir probe/waves)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass2,454 kg (5,411 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleAtlas V 401
Launch DateNovember 18, 2013
Arrival DateSeptember 22, 2014
ProgramMars Scout
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Mars
OTHER MARS MISSIONS