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NASA's Mars Rovers Capture Unprecedented Solar Storm Activity

Recent solar storms have provided invaluable data on radiation exposure and Martian auroras, informing future astronaut missions.

A large solar flare can be seen in this photo from 2003.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has confirmed the Sun has released the most-powerful solar flare in the last seven years.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare – seen as the bright flash on the Sun’s right edge – on June 10. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold. Credit: NASA/SDO
a fuzzy dark yellow and brownish orb in a black abyss.

Overview

  • Curiosity rover's cameras recorded charged particles from a major solar storm on May 20, creating visual artifacts.
  • Radiation levels from the storm would have exposed astronauts to doses equivalent to 30 chest X-rays.
  • Mars Odyssey and MAVEN orbiters observed significant impacts, including temporary instrument malfunctions and global auroras.
  • Scientists are using this data to plan protective measures for future Mars missions, such as utilizing natural landscape features.
  • The solar events highlight the need to understand space weather effects on Mars for safe human exploration.