Greenbelt, Maryland; December 23rd, 2025
Engineers at NASA are working to address an issue affecting the MAVEN spacecraft as it approaches an upcoming solar conjunction, a period when communication between Earth and Mars becomes limited due to the Sun’s position between the two planets, according to an official update released through NASA Science.
NASA stated that the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, known as MAVEN, experienced an operational issue that required intervention ahead of the conjunction window. Solar conjunctions are routine but sensitive periods for Mars missions, during which radio signals passing close to the Sun can be disrupted by solar interference, increasing the risk of corrupted commands.
The agency explained that, as a precaution, Mars spacecraft are typically placed into carefully planned configurations before conjunction begins. During this time, spacecraft operate with limited interaction from Earth, following preloaded instructions until reliable communications resume. Any unresolved anomalies ahead of conjunction receive heightened attention, as opportunities for corrective action become constrained once the blackout period begins.
According to NASA, mission engineers identified the issue during routine monitoring and initiated corrective steps to ensure MAVEN remains stable and capable of operating safely through the conjunction. The update emphasized that the spacecraft continues to function and that teams are working methodically, following established procedures developed through years of Mars mission experience.
MAVEN has been orbiting Mars since 2014, studying the planet’s upper atmosphere and how it has been shaped by interactions with the Sun and solar wind. Data collected by the spacecraft has contributed to understanding how Mars transitioned from a warmer, wetter environment to the cold, thin-atmosphere planet observed today.
NASA noted that solar conjunctions occur roughly every 26 months and are a known operational challenge for all Mars missions. During these periods, spacecraft are typically commanded into safe, science-limited modes, reducing risk until full communications can resume. The current efforts surrounding MAVEN were described as consistent with standard mission management practices rather than an emergency response.
The agency did not provide specific technical details about the issue, citing the complexity of spacecraft systems and the ongoing nature of the work. Instead, the update focused on the process, underscoring that engineers routinely plan for contingencies well ahead of conjunction to protect long-term mission health.
As MAVEN approaches the communication blackout window, NASA stated that teams will continue monitoring the spacecraft and finalizing command sequences. Once solar conjunction ends, normal communication and science operations are expected to resume, allowing the mission to continue its long-running study of Mars’ atmosphere.
Issued directly by NASA Science, the update documents another moment of quiet stewardship in deep space exploration, where careful preparation and incremental adjustments keep a distant spacecraft functioning millions of miles from Earth.
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Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- NASA, NASA Science update detailing work on the MAVEN spacecraft ahead of solar conjunction, December 2025
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