Science
MAVEN will attempt to determine what happened to the once-dense atmosphere of Mars. (Courtesy NASA) Click on image to watch full video.
MAVEN will have four primary scientific objectives:
1. Determine the role that loss of volatiles from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time
2. Determine the current state of the upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the solar wind
3. Determine the current rates of escape of neutral gases and ions to space and the processes controlling them
4. Determine the ratios of stable isotopes that will tell Mars’ history of loss through time
- MAVEN Science Community Workshop Presentations (December 2, 2012)
On December 2, 2012, we held a one-day workshop for the Mars science community to discuss the MAVEN mission. We provided details on the mission plan, spacecraft, instruments, observations and sequencing, and anticipated data products and science return. We presented detailed information so that those scientists with an interest in using the data or applying it to models can begin preparing for data return and release, and so that those with an interest in proposing for the planned Participating Scientist program can learn details of what we are planning. - Click on the image below to view a presentation (6.2 MB PDF) of the latest MAVEN science update (February 28, 2012).
