NASA Prepares for Intense Solar Activity at Mars
As the Sun enters a period of peak activity, NASA's MAVEN and Curiosity missions are set to study the impact of solar storms on Mars, crucial for future manned missions.
- NASA's MAVEN and Curiosity missions are poised to analyze solar flares and radiation at Mars during the solar maximum, a period of heightened solar activity occurring roughly every 11 years.
- The lack of a global magnetic field on Mars leaves the planet more vulnerable to solar events, which could significantly impact future astronauts and robotic missions.
- Research aims to understand the intensity of solar activity on Mars and develop effective radiation protection for astronauts.
- Solar storms could also provide insights into Mars' transformation from a warm, wet planet to a cold, desert-like environment.
- Global dust storms during this period may test theories on how Mars lost its water, potentially linked to atmospheric stripping during solar storms.
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