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Mars' magnetic tail is shaped and twisted by the solar wind. The solar wind interacts with the Mars upper atmosphere, but is deflected past Earth by a global magnetic field (artist's concept). The solar wind is a stream of particles, mainly protons and electrons, flowing from the sun's atmosphere at a speed of about 1 million mph. Solar magnetic field lines (yellow) interact with Martian surface magnetic fields (blue), and result in reconnected magnetic fields (red). MAVEN has been studying Mars since 2014, investigating the Red planet's magnetosphere and atmosphere. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2017/mars-twisted-tail) Related pages

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is the first mission devoted to studying the Mars upper atmosphere. Its findings will help scientists understand how Mars lost its early atmosphere, transforming it from a wet planet into the dry world we see today.For complete transcript, click here.Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel. The Martian surface bears ample evidence of flowing water in its youth, from crater lakes and riverbeds to minerals that only form in water. But today Mars is cold and dry, and scientists think that the loss of Mars' water may have been caused by the loss of its early atmosphere. NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission, or MAVEN, will be the first spacecraft devoted to studying the Red Planet's upper atmosphere, in an effort to understand how the Martian climate has changed over time. Related pages

MAVEN's cruise phase from Earth to Mars (top-down view) MAVEN's cruise phase from Earth to Mars (oblique view) The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission (MAVEN) spacecraft was launched on a 10 month journey to Mars on November 18, 2013. MAVEN is expected to arrive in Mars orbit on Sept 21, 2014 EDT. MAVEN's mission is to investigate the upper atmosphere of Mars and its interactions with the Sun and solar wind. This will help scientists understand why Mars lost many volatile molecules form its atmosphere such as CO2, N2, and H2O.These visualizations show the path has taken from Earth to Mars. There is a wide view from above the ecliptic plane and a view that slowly tilts down to about 45 degrees above the ecliptic plane. Related pages