How the Sun stripped away the Martian atmosphere over ten years of observation
Since 2014, the MAVEN spacecraft has orbited Mars to study its upper atmosphere. This mission provides critical insights into how solar wind interacts with the planet, helping scientists understand the mechanisms behind the long-term loss of the Martian atmosphere to space.
Launched to investigate the evolution of the Martian environment, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission reached its destination on September 21, 2014. Over the past decade, the spacecraft has collected extensive data on the complex relationship between the Sun and the Red Planet.
By monitoring how the upper atmosphere reacts to solar activity, researchers have gained a clearer picture of why Mars lost its atmosphere over time. This ongoing study remains a cornerstone of our understanding of planetary climate history.
