After being put into safe mode for several months due to a scare, NASA's MAVEN is back up and running. After recovering from the issue, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutionN craft resumed science operation on May 28, 2022.
An issue with the navigation system caused the problem to begin. The team was performing routine operations on its IMUs when it lost contact with the spacecraft. There are two IMUs on the space craft. The navigation system uses gyros and accelerometers to measure the movements of the craft. The IMUs stopped working so the spaceship couldn't determine its location in space.
MAVEN was able to get data from the second IMU after a restart. The IMU was nearing the end of its life, so it had to be put into safe mode, a minimal operating mode, to prevent damage.
The team was working on a navigation alternative when the backup IMU only lasted so long. The system used stars to figure out the position of the spaceship. The new mode had to be developed five months ahead of schedule to get it deployed to MAVEN so the spacecraft could keep working.
The backup IMU was powered off when the new software was uploaded to MAVEN. After testing the new system, they powered the instruments back up and resumed full operations.
In addition to collecting data on the Mars atmosphere, MAVEN also acts as a communication relay,relaying data between Mars explorers on the surface like the Perseverance rover and Earth. Although the team will need to find new ways to control the IMUs in the few times per year that they are needed, NASA believes it should be able to keep operating into the future.
MAVEN will continue to produce important science and operate as a relay for the surface assets through the end of the decade thanks to the work of the team. I couldn't be more proud of our team.
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