Life
Briefing: NASA launches twin spacecraft to solve the mystery of Mars’ lost atmosphere
Strategic angle: Mars didn’t always look like the barren world we see today. Over billions of years, the Sun’s solar wind stripped away much of its atmosphere.
editorial-staff
1 min read
Updated 27 days ago
Scheduled for launch on March 15, 2026, NASA's twin-spacecraft mission will focus on Mars' atmospheric history and the role of solar wind in its evolution.
The mission aims to gather data on how solar wind has contributed to the depletion of Mars' atmosphere over billions of years, transitioning the planet from a potentially habitable environment to its current arid state.
Understanding these atmospheric changes is critical for assessing Mars' past climate and potential for supporting life, as well as implications for future exploration.