NASA's MAVEN spacecraft remains in safe mode after IMU issue
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 24, 2023

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft went into safe mode on Feb. 16 due to an issue with its Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which measures the spacecraft's rate of rotation for determining its pointing during a minor maneuver scheduled to reduce eclipse durations in 2027.

On Feb. 17, MAVEN exited safe mode and is currently operating in all stellar mode, which does not rely on IMU measurements and allows the IMU to be powered off to conserve its lifetime. The team will waive the maneuver while they evaluate the next steps, and relay activities and nominal science operations will resume on Feb. 23.

MAVEN was launched in November 2013 and entered Mars' orbit in September 2014 to explore the planet's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the Sun and solar wind in order to understand the loss of the Martian atmosphere to space. This knowledge can provide insight into the history of Mars' atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability.

MAVEN stands for "Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution." The spacecraft is part of NASA's Mars Scout Program, a series of low-cost, focused missions designed to explore the red planet.

MAVEN carries three instrument suites: the Particles and Fields Package (PFP), the Remote Sensing Package (RSP), and the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS). The PFP measures solar wind and ionospheric particles, while the RSP images the upper atmosphere and the NGIMS measures the composition and isotopes of neutral gases and ions.

MAVEN has been instrumental in providing data on the loss of Mars' atmosphere to space. The spacecraft has discovered that solar wind and radiation are responsible for stripping away the Martian atmosphere, which has led to the planet's current cold, dry, and inhospitable conditions. By studying this process, scientists hope to better understand the conditions that led to the evolution of Mars' environment and the potential for habitability in the past and present.

MAVEN has been in operation for over 7 years, and the spacecraft has had a successful mission so far. However, the recent issue with its IMU highlights the challenges of space exploration and the importance of careful mission planning and execution.

Related Links
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