NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is alive and well as it orbits Mars after being pummeled by its first storm.

It's sent data and photos of the event and also beamed back photos of coronas formed by different gases and energetic particles shrouding the Red Planet. MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) also sent back a Martian ozone map.

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NASA said this is the most detailed and extensive image yet of the upper Martian atmosphere. Some of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the atmosphere are believed to have originated from water on the surface and carbon dioxide.

Since Martian gravitational forces are weak, these hydrogen and oxygen particles seep through the atmosphere towards space. This process demonstrates that Mars cannot sustain its atmosphere.

Using Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS), MAVEN carefully observed Mars' atmosphere and detected sunlight reflected by these hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide atoms. This enabled MAVEN to build an ozone map of the planet.

Scientists can now further study and observe the photochemical processes that occur in the Martian atmosphere. MAVEN entered Mars' orbit last September 21.

All of MAVEN's instruments are currently sending great data quality, better than originally anticipated in these early stages of the mission, said Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN's principal investigator at the University of Colorado.

MAVEN also observed a solar flare detected by its Solar Energetic Particle instrument. It will keep observing the atmosphere since solar flares can flood the Martian atmosphere with energetic particles.

TagsNASA's MAVEN Captures First Look Into Upper Mars Atmosphere, NASA, MAVEN, first look mars atmosphere NASA MAVEN, Mars, mars atmosphere