Ten Years at Mars with NASA’s MAVEN Mission

Summary

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has been studying the loss of Mars' ancient atmosphere and water since its arrival in 2014. Key discoveries include the effects of solar wind erosion, atmospheric sputtering, and magnetic field interactions. MAVEN has also observed dust storms, water loss, and auroras on Mars. Notable achievements include mapping Martian winds and electric currents, and capturing stunning ultraviolet images of Mars’ atmosphere. As MAVEN continues its mission, it provides critical insights into Mars' evolving climate and its interactions with the solar wind.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Mars today is a cold, dry world with a thin atmosphere only 1% as thick as Earth's.
• 💧 In its ancient past, Mars had flowing water, supported by a thicker atmosphere.
• 🚀 Since 2014, NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has been studying the loss of Mars' atmosphere and its impact on water.
• 🌬️ In 2015, MAVEN observed how the solar wind erodes Mars' atmosphere by accelerating ions into space.
• ⚡ In 2017, MAVEN showed that a process called 'sputtering' is a major cause of atmospheric loss on Mars.
• 🌀 MAVEN discovered in 2017 that Mars has a twisted magnetic tail caused by interactions between the solar wind and Mars' own magnetic fields.
• 🌪️ In 2018, a global dust storm lifted water molecules into the upper atmosphere, accelerating water loss to space.
• ✨ In 2018, MAVEN found the first-ever proton aurora at Mars, a widespread ultraviolet light display caused by solar wind particles.
• 🌬️ In 2019, MAVEN created the first map of Martian thermosphere wind currents, revealing high-altitude wind disturbances influenced by surface terrain.
• 🌟 In 2024, MAVEN observed the effects of an X-class solar flare, witnessing auroras and a surge in atmospheric activity.

Q & A

What is the current state of Mars' atmosphere compared to its ancient past?

Today, Mars has a cold, dry environment with a thin atmosphere, only 1% as thick as Earth's. However, in the ancient past, Mars had a much thicker atmosphere that supported the presence of flowing water on its surface.

What has MAVEN been studying since its arrival at Mars in 2014?

MAVEN has been studying how Mars' atmosphere was lost to space, focusing on the processes that contributed to the loss of the planet's once-thick atmosphere and its water.

How does the solar wind affect the Martian atmosphere, according to MAVEN’s 2015 observations?

In 2015, MAVEN observed that the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun, erodes the Martian atmosphere by accelerating ions from the upper atmosphere and driving them into space, significantly reducing the atmospheric density.

What is 'sputtering,' and how does it contribute to atmospheric loss on Mars?

'Sputtering' occurs when ions from Mars' atmosphere are picked up by the solar wind’s magnetic field and collide with neutral atoms at the top of the atmosphere, ejecting them into space. This process has been a major driver of atmospheric loss, particularly in removing noble gases like argon.

What did MAVEN discover about Mars’ magnetic tail in 2017?

MAVEN revealed that Mars' magnetic tail, or magnetotail, is twisted due to the interaction between the sun's magnetic fields and small magnetic fields in Mars' crust. This confirmed earlier model predictions about the planet’s induced magnetic field.

How did MAVEN contribute to our understanding of Martian dust storms in 2018?

During a global dust storm in 2018, MAVEN observed a significant increase in water in Mars' upper atmosphere. It found that heating from dust storms lofts water molecules higher into the atmosphere, accelerating the process of water being lost to space.

What unique type of aurora did MAVEN discover in 2018?

In 2018, MAVEN discovered a Mars proton aurora, where protons from the solar wind interact with the Martian ionosphere. Unlike Earth, where proton auroras are confined near the poles, these auroras can spread across the entire dayside of Mars.

What did MAVEN’s 2019 findings reveal about the wind currents in Mars’ thermosphere?

In 2019, MAVEN produced the first map of wind currents in Mars’ thermosphere, revealing that terrain features like mountains and valleys on the surface can disturb high-altitude winds.

What significant event did MAVEN observe in 2022 related to the solar wind?

In 2022, MAVEN observed the disappearance of the solar wind around Mars when a fast-moving region of the solar wind overtook a slower one, leaving a temporary void. This caused Mars' magnetosphere to expand and MAVEN's orbit to be engulfed by the planet's magnetic field.

What role does MAVEN continue to play in Mars exploration?

MAVEN remains a key part of NASA's Mars exploration efforts, studying the interaction between the solar wind and Mars' atmosphere, and providing insights into the planet’s ongoing atmospheric evolution and climate history.