Washington [US], December 21: US space agency NASA has lost contact with the Mars orbiter MAVEN. Efforts are under way to re-establish contact, a NASA spokeswoman told dpa.
No regular data has been received for around two weeks.
NASA on Monday said a "brief fragment of tracking data" from earlier in the month suggests that the probe may be "rotating in an unexpected manner."
Launched at the end of 2013, MAVEN has been orbiting Mars for around 10 years and provides important research data, particularly on the planet's atmosphere.
NASA also has the Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probes in operation, as well as the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on the surface of the red planet.
Source: Qatar Tribune
