A Vital NASA Mars Orbiter Has Gone Dark

NASA has lost the signal from a Martian probe that also serves as a communications relay for the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the surface of the Red Planet.

The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft was operating normally on December 6 when its orbit led it behind Mars. When the probe reappeared in front of the planet, NASA was not able to reestablish contact, the agency revealed in an update yesterday.

“The spacecraft and operations teams are investigating…