NASA is launching a mission to study the Martian atmosphere's history

Space · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While rovers like Perseverance explore the dusty surface, a new mission is heading to the heights. NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is preparing to investigate the upper atmosphere of Mars to uncover how the Red Planet's climate and habitability have changed over time.

NASA has announced the upcoming launch of the MAVEN mission, a spacecraft specifically designed to understand the upper atmosphere of Mars. Scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 1:28 p.m. EST on November 18, the mission represents a dedicated effort to study the history and evolution of the Martian atmosphere, climate, and its potential for planetary habitability. The mission is led by principal investigator Bruce Jakosky from the University of Colorado Boulder. This scientific effort is supported by a dedicated team including program executive Lisa May and project manager David Mitchell.

The mission's scientific objectives are part of a broader era of Mars exploration that has seen a transition from small-scale probes to sophisticated robotic explorers. This lineage includes the 1976 Viking 1 landing, which began a 50-year era of surface exploration, and the microwave-sized Sojourner rover. Today, NASA utilizes much larger machines, such as the SUV-sized Perseverance rover, to investigate whether Mars was once a warmer, wetter environment capable of supporting microbial life. Other notable robotic pathfinders include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which searches for evidence of long-term surface water. Even the Psyche spacecraft recently utilized Mars' gravity to adjust its trajectory during a flyby on May 15.

Understanding the atmosphere is critical as NASA prepares for the possibility of human exploration, potentially as early as the 2030s. Scientists are currently developing technologies like MOXIE, which demonstrates how to produce oxygen directly from the Martian atmosphere for breathing and fuel. By studying the atmospheric changes through MAVEN, researchers can better understand the environmental challenges that future astronauts might face in the planet's harsh, cold, and dry conditions. To survive the planet's extreme temperature swings, which can range from -284 degrees F to 86 degrees F, engineers are looking into nuclear fission power. This could provide a more stable energy source than solar power during months-long dust storms.

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