NASA says the MAVEN spacecraft is \u201cvery likely\u201d unrecoverable.<\/strong> The Mars orbiter has been on an extended mission over nearly a decade, exploring how Mars loses its atmosphere to space. Contact with MAVEN was lost in December, and the probe no longer appears to be in its planned orbit or rotating as expected. Our update on the mission explains what\u2019s at stake and how NASA has been trying to save the mission. Image credit: NASA \/ GSFC<\/i><\/p>\n Catch up on a curiously alien book club conversation.<\/strong> In this month\u2019s book club event, Mat Kaplan talks \u201cThe Little Book of Aliens\u201d with Adam Frank, an author, science communicator, and astrophysicist at the University of Rochester. Topics range from the origin of life to UFOs and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.<\/p>\n What did it take to save NASA science?<\/strong> In this week\u2019s Planetary Radio, hear from our very own Jack Kiraly, director of government relations, and Ari Koeppel, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and space policy intern, about how the fight over NASA\u2019s 2026 budget was won. After sharing what the victory means for the future of space exploration, they also look ahead to what comes next as the 2027 budget process gets started.<\/p>\n Who is America\u2019s Favorite Teacher?<\/strong> One outstanding teacher will be named through online competitions offered by Colossal, with proceeds benefitting The Planetary Society. Last year’s competition raised nearly $3.2 million in support of our mission. The winner will receive a cash prize, a feature in Reader\u2019s Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a school assembly with our very own Planetary Society CEO, Bill Nye! Registration is now open, so if you’re a teacher, consider joining the competition!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Planetary](\"https:\/\/planetary.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/email\/newsletter\/email-tps-logo-small.png\"){kind=logo}
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