NASA to launch mission to probe Martian atmosphere

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission (MAVEN), to be launched on 18 November from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will examine specific processes on Mars that led to the loss of much of its atmosphere. Data and analysis could tell planetary scientists the history of climate change on the Red Planet and provide further information on the history of planetary habitability. ‘The MAVEN mission is a significant step towards unravelling the planetary puzzle about Mars’ past and present environments,’ said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. ‘The knowledge we gain will build on past and current missions examining Mars and will help inform future missions to send humans to Mars,’ said Grunsfeld. The 5,410-pound spacecraft will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket on a 10-month journey to Mars. After arriving at Mars in September 2014, MAVEN will settle into its elliptical science orbit. Over the course of its one-Earth-year primary mission, MAVEN will observe all of Mars’ latitudes. Altitudes will range from 150 km to more than 6115 km. During the primary mission, MAVEN will execute five deep dip manoeuvres, descending to an altitude of 125 km.

This marks the lower boundary of the planet’s upper atmosphere. ‘Launch is an important event, but it’s only a step along the way to getting the science measurements,’ said Bruce Jakosky, principal investigator at the University of Colorado. ‘We’re excited about the science we’ll be doing, and are anxious now to get to Mars,’ said Jakosky.