By 
January 31st, 2026
Image credit: NASA
NASA appears to be continuing its re-contacting efforts with the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN). The agency’s Deep Space Network (DSN) is continuing recovery activities after losing contact with the Mars orbiter on December 6.
A posting last month noted that, although no spacecraft telemetry has been received since Dec. 4, a brief fragment of tracking data was received on Dec. 6 as part of an ongoing radio science campaign.
“Analysis of that signal suggests that the MAVEN spacecraft was rotating in an unexpected manner when it emerged from behind Mars. Further, the frequency of the tracking signal suggests MAVEN’s orbit trajectory may have changed. The team continues to analyze tracking data to understand the most likely scenarios leading to the loss of signal.”
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
In a January 26 posting, NASA said that, as spacecraft and rovers at Mars emerged from solar conjunction – a period when the Red Planet and Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun and contact with Mars missions isn’t possible – efforts were resumed to re-contact MAVEN.
Deep space station
Today, as viewed on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Deep Space Network Now website, the Goldstone Deep Space Station (DSS 24) is in use and is targeting MAVEN.
No official word as yet if MAVEN is responding.
Go to the Deep Space Network Now website at:
https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now/dsn.html
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Posted in Space News
