CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) 鈥� After six months of radio silence, at Mars has been declared dead.
The space agency confirmed Wednesday that the after more than a decade of observations.
Launched in 2013 to study the red planet鈥檚 atmosphere from orbit, mysteriously fell silent in early December after passing behind Mars. Data indicated the spacecraft went into a fast spin, which disrupted its orbit and drained the onboard batteries.
A review board convened by NASA earlier this year concluded that the spacecraft is useless and unable to be recovered. An investigation continues into what caused the problem.
Besides studying Martian weather and observing a stray interstellar comet last year, Maven helped relay information from NASA鈥檚 Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the surface.
Maven’s lead scientist, Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado Boulder, said the spacecraft made a number of 鈥渁mazing discoveries.鈥�
Maven 鈥渉as truly advanced our understanding of the Martian atmosphere and evolution,鈥� she said in a statement.
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