How did Mars lose its atmosphere to the void of space?

Space · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mars was once a world with a much denser atmosphere. To understand how it became a frozen desert, NASA sent MAVEN to study the planet's upper atmosphere. By measuring how gases escape into space, scientists can reconstruct the climatic history of the Red Planet.

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft reached its destination on September 21, 2014, after a 10-month journey from Earth. It is the first mission specifically dedicated to exploring the tenuous upper atmosphere of Mars. Researchers mainly aim to identify the ways in which Martian weather patterns shifted as gases escaped into the cosmos. To achieve this, MAVEN must perform a series of precise maneuvers. Following its initial Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI), which reduced its velocity by 1230.5 m/s (2752 mph), the spacecraft entered a stable 35-hour orbit. It then undergoes a six-week commissioning phase to test its eight instruments and science-mapping commands. The spacecraft's arrival was confirmed by data received at the Deep Space Network in Australia. It was also monitored by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The mission began with a launch from Cape Canaveral on November 18, 2013.

This includes a Periapsis Lowering Maneuver to bring its closest approach to approximately 200 km and a Period Reduction Maneuver to shorten its orbit to 5.5 hours. The mission is a massive collaborative effort involving several major institutions. Lockheed Martin built the spacecraft and manages operations, while NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the project. The University of Colorado Boulder leads science operations and education, and the University of California at Berkeley provided four of the mission's eight science instruments. The spacecraft is powered by over 2,000 solar cells, generating between 1,150 and 1,700 watts depending on its position in orbit.

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