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  "path": "/science/nasa-mars-orbiter-unrecoverable-interstellar-object",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-04T03:49:34.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Scientists left astonished by groundbreaking phenomenon on faraway planets",
    "British Paralympian set to become first disabled man to LIVE in space",
    "Space missions could be left in peril after new study reveals unexpected risk to astronaut crews",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nNasa has officially declared a Mars probe \"unrecoverable\" after it scanned a mysterious interstellar object.\n\nThe first mission devoted to observe the Martian atmosphere, The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (Maven) lasted a decade beyond its intended one-year mission.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt was last heard on December 6, when the spacecraft \"experienced an unexpected loss of signal after it passed behind the Red Planet\".\n\nNasa has now determined Maven to be unrecoverable and incapable of performing its science and data relay mission.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nOutside of its primary Martian observance mission, Maven examined 3I/ATLAS, a comet which is only the third interstellar object discovered in our solar system.\n\nThe probe moved behind Mars while tracking the comet, before suddenly stopping transmission and rotating unusually fast.\n\nAt the time, Shane Byrne, HiRISE principal investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson, said: \"Observations of interstellar objects are still rare enough that we learn something new on every occasion.\n\n\"We’re fortunate that 3I/ATLAS passed this close to Mars.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNasa remains uncertain why the $583million probe began to spin rapidly, which it believes cause d the batteries to drain and communications system to die.\n\nThe space agency said: \"These preliminary findings do not address a potential root cause for the anomaly, which still is being investigated.\"\n\nWhen Maven initially went offline in December, many believed it was tied to 3I/ATLAS, which made its closest pass by Earth that same week.\n\nNasa faced criticism for the images it took of the interstellar object - which were blurry, and fuelled theories 3I/Atlas was harbouring alien life in some way\n\n### LATEST SPACE NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Scientists left astonished by groundbreaking phenomenon on faraway planets\n  * British Paralympian set to become first disabled man to LIVE in space\n  * Space missions could be left in peril after new study reveals unexpected risk to astronaut crews\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEarth-bound amateurs were also able to take photographs of comet through telescopes and pictured jest of gas flowing from it.\n\nHarvard Professor Avi Loeb has claimed 3I/ATLAS was sent by a form of unknown intelligence.\n\nThe comet was found to be releasing a surprising amount of methane, a byproduct of living organisms, in May last year by Dr Loeb, the director of the Galileo Project.\n\nHe said in a statement: \"In the atmospheres of exoplanets, methane is considered a prominent biosignature.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOther scientists have argued methane is the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth, Dr Loeb added.\n\nThe Galileo Project is one of the largest university-backed projects dedicated to the search of extraterrestrial life, describing itself as where \"accidental or anecdotal observations and legends\" meet with \"the mainstream of transparent, validated and systematic scientific research\".\n\nShannon Curry, Maven's principal investigator said: \"The Maven mission has truly advanced our understanding of the Martian atmosphere and evolution. This dataset has had a tremendous impact on the field.\"\n\nLouise Prockter, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, added: \"The data collected from MAVEN will continue to provide valuable insight into Mars for decades to come.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nasa declares Mars orbiter ‘unrecoverable’ after scanning mysterious interstellar object"
}