Mapping Mars' Upper Atmosphere

One of the challenges of terraforming Mars is to increase its atmospheric pressure, which is currently less than 1% that of Earth. The Martian polar caps, minerals, and soil could all provide sources of carbon dioxide and water to thicken the atmosphere. Unfortunately, a new study by the MAVEN science team finds that processing all sources available on Mars would only increase the pressure to about 7% that of Earth, far short of what is needed.Learn more about this finding. Text and Textless Digital Versions of Infographic Text and Textless Print Versions of Infographic Text and Textless Broadcast Versions of Infographic

On Earth, the northern and southern lights occur when the solar wind (electrically charged particles from the Sun) follow our planet s observation of a proton aurora at Mars. ANIMATED GIF - The Martian atmosphere during a proton aurora. ANIMATED GIF - Mars proton aurora with data from the MAVEN Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) at bottom. Credit: NASA/MAVEN/University of Colorado/LASP/Anil Rao ANIMATION - Mars proton aurora with data from the MAVEN Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) at bottom. Credit: NASA/MAVEN/University of Colorado/LASP/Anil RaoWatch this video on the NASA.gov Video YouTube channel. ANIMATED GIF - Alternate version displaying all charge exchanges. GRAPHIC - Protons from the solar wind approach the Martian upper atmosphere. GRAPHIC - Solar wind protons undergo a series of charge exchanges to slip past the bow shock, causing a proton aurora. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2018/mars-proton-aurora)

Today, Mars is a global desert with an atmosphere far too thin to support bodies of flowing water, but evidence shows that Mars was considerably wetter in the ancient past. Scientists think that climate change on Mars was caused by the loss of an early, thick atmosphere, and NASA’s MAVEN mission is investigating whether it was driven into space.One of the prime suspects is the solar wind, a stream of electrically charged particles continuously blowing outward from the Sun. Unlike Earth, Mars lacks a global magnetic field to deflect the incoming solar wind. Instead, charged particles from the Sun crash into the Mars upper atmosphere, and can accelerate Martian ions into space. Now, MAVEN has observed this process in action – by measuring the velocity of ions escaping from Mars.The movies on this page compare simulations of ion escape with MAVEN’s observations of oxygen ion flux. The results closely fit the expected pattern, with the most energetic ions (in red) accelerated in a plume above Mars, while the majority of escaping ions (green) are lost along the “tail” region in the wake of the solar wind. MAVEN’s observations confirm that the solar wind is a significant contributor to atmosphere loss on Mars, and they bring scientists closer to solving the mystery of the ancient Martian climate. Read the full press release about this finding.Watch the November 2015 MAVEN Science Update. Scientists have long suspected the solar wind of stripping the Martian upper atmosphere into space, turning Mars from a blue world to a red one. Now, NASA induced magnetic field (in blue) For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html)

Today, Mars is a global desert with an atmosphere far too thin to support bodies of flowing water, but evidence shows that Mars was considerably wetter in the ancient past. Scientists think that climate change on Mars was caused by the loss of an early, thick atmosphere, and NASA s ongoing role in the evolution of the Martian climate.Read the full press release about this finding.Watch an excerpt of the MAVEN Mission Briefing. Simulation of the solar wind at Mars compared with MAVEN observations, showing the predicted bow shock. Available for download in up to 4k resolution. Print resolution still of MAVEN observed average solar wind flow (with Mars) Print resolution still of MAVEN observed average solar wind flow (without Mars) For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html)

A NASA spacecraft uses starlight to probe the composition of Mars’ upper atmosphere. Find out more about how NASA s MAVEN spacecraft explores Mars in this video. The MAVEN spacecraft entered Mars orbit on Sept. 21, 2014. As MAVEN circles the planet, its Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument observes the light from setting stars. By measuring how a star changes color as it dims, scientists can determine the composition of the Martian atmosphere at varying altitudes.

NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, or MAVEN, is the first spacecraft specifically designed to study the Mars upper atmosphere. MAVEN’s goal is to understand how Mars lost its thick, early atmosphere to space, and how this in turn caused it to lose its once hospitable climate.MAVEN’s orbit gives it the most comprehensive view of the Martian atmosphere to date. Circling the red planet every 4.5 hours on an elliptical path, MAVEN passes close to the north and south poles at an inclination of 75 degrees. This allows MAVEN to gather a north-south swath of data with each pass. At the same time, Mars itself rotates eastward beneath MAVEN, giving the orbiter longitudinal coverage. The combination of MAVEN’s orbit and Mars’ daily rotation provides a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere every day.While previous Mars orbiters have peered down at the planet s MAVEN satellite in an elliptical orbit around Mars. The horizon is scanned to determine atmospheric makeup. Blue sections of the atmosphere represent regions that have been scanned, and total coverage is achieved after roughly six orbits. This video is also available on our YouTube channel. Print resolution still image - MAVEN in orbit around Mars Print resolution still image - MAVEN studying the atmosphere of Mars Print resolution still image - MAVEN studying the atmosphere of Mars For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html)

NASA s orbit is lowered to only 125 km at closest approach, dipping into the upper atmosphere to study it in situ.This animation depicts MAVEN maneuvering from its normal science orbit to the deep dip orbit and back. The animation is available for download in broadcast-quality HD and can be looped. MAVEN Deep Dip Animation MAVEN Deep Dip Textless For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html)

NASA s own orbital motion, background stars rise and set behind the planet. Their light dims as it passes through the tenuous atmosphere, with specific gases absorbing specific wavelengths. MAVEN uses its Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph to break apart this light and see which wavelengths are absorbed, allowing it to determine atmospheric composition at varying altitudes. MAVEN observes a stellar occultation with its IUVS instrument. By splitting apart the light of setting stars, MAVEN can determine the composition of the Martian atmosphere. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html)