NASA Loses Maven Orbiter, Aging Mars Fleet Spurs Commercial Backup

In December 2025 NASA lost contact with its Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (Maven) orbiter, reducing the active Mars fleet to seven and NASA’s to two. The cause remains unknown, and a final report is due later this year. The remaining orbiters—2001 Mars Odyssey (25 years), Mars Express (23 years), and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (20 years)—have provided continuous simultaneous surface‑to‑orbit observations that enable scientists to track seasonal changes, dust storms, and surface‑atmosphere interactions. Beyond science, these orbiters carry powerful radios that relay data from rovers such as Perseverance and Curiosity back to Earth. To mitigate the gap, NASA selected Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to deliver a dedicated Mars telecommunications satellite no later than 31 December 2028. The new orbiter will support future landings and surface operations but will not carry science instruments. If the 2028 launch window is missed, the next opportunity will be in 2030 or 2031, underscoring the urgency of maintaining a robust orbital infrastructure for Mars exploration.