Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN)
The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission is the first orbiter devoted to understanding the Martian upper atmosphere. Research suggests suggests that Mars once had a thicker atmosphere and was warm enough for liquid water to flow on the surface. MAVEN's instruments are exploring Mars' upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the sun and solar wind to determine the role played by loss of atmospheric gas to space in the evolution of the Martian climate through time. Goddard's Planetary Environments Laboratory developed MAVEN's Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer and the Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory developed MAVEN's magnetometer. The MAVEN mission launched November 18, 2013.
Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile compounds, such as CO2, NO2, and H2O, from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability. MAVEN will carry three instrument suites. The Particles and Fields Package, built by the University of California at Berkeley with support from CU/LASP and Goddard Space Flight Center, contains six instruments that will characterize the solar wind and the ionosphere of the planet. The Remote Sensing Package, built by CU/LASP, will determine global characteristics of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere.
The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer, provided by Goddard Space Flight Center, will measure the composition and isotopes of neutral ions. Lockheed Martin, based in Littleton, Colorado, will provide the MAVEN spacecraft, as well as mission operations for the mission. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will navigate the spacecraft. CU/LASP will provide science operations and data packaging.
Related Publications
2018.
"Martian thermospheric response to an X8.2 solar flare on 10 September 2017 as seen by MAVEN/IUVS.",
Geophysical Research Letters,
45
(15):
7312-7319
[10.1029/2018gl077731]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2023.
"Dayside temperature maps of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere of Mars retrieved from MAVEN IUVS observations of O I 297.2 nm emission.",
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets,
128
(2):
e2022JE007325
[10.1029/2022je007325]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2018.
"Loss of the Martian atmosphere to space: Present-day loss rates determined from MAVEN observations and integrated loss through time.",
Icarus,
315
146-157
[10.1016/j.icarus.2018.05.030]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2017.
"Nitric oxide nightglow and Martian mesospheric circulation from MAVEN/IUVS observations and LMD-MGCM predictions.",
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics,
122
(5):
5782-5797
[10.1002/2016ja023523]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2016.
"Comparison of the Martian thermospheric density and temperature from IUVS/MAVEN data and general circulation modeling.",
Geophysical Research Letters,
43
(7):
3095-3104
[10.1002/2016gl068388]
[Journal Article/Letter]
