NASA announced Friday MAVEN will launch as scheduled. Since its role as a communications channel and supporting protection for present space operations in Mars exempts it from government shutdown.
The Mars Atmospheric and Volatile Evolution or MAVEN spacecraft will still take off according to schedule on November 18. NASA announced that it will play a vital role in communications and support for operating space missions in Mars and should not cease operations because of the government shutdown.
Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN's lead investigator, said "We have already restarted spacecraft processing at Kennedy Space Center, working toward being ready to launch on November 18. We will continue to work over the next couple of days to identify any changes in our schedule or plans that are necessary to stay on track."
The government shutdown following prolonged debate of U.S. Congress in budget issues has rendered several government agencies to cease operations including NASA.
"MAVEN is required as a communications relay in order to be assured of continued communications with the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers," Jakosky explains on the exemption of the mission from the government shutdown in a report published in the National Geographic.
He also said that the rovers Curiosity and Opportunity in Mars are supported by the Odyssey and Reconnaissance Orbiter which were launched in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Proceeding with the MAVEN mission as scheduled will allow NASA to further protect and support the existing these space assets.
There is an available 20-day period for MAVEN to launch and reach Mars. The Mars spacecraft must launch within this take off window, otherwise it would have to be delayed and resumed after two years when Mars will be favorably aligned again with our planet. Any delay will obviously be time-consuming and very costly for the mission.
MAVEN's main mission is for further investigations of Mar's atmosphere. According to Jakosky, "Although the exception for MAVEN is not being done for science reasons, the science of MAVEN clearly will benefit from this action. Launching in 2013 allows us to observe at a good time in the 11-year solar cycle."
