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mission instruments
- CRISM: Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars
- CTX: Context Camera
- HiRISE: High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment
- MARSIS: Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding
- SHARAD: Shallow Radar
- THEMIS: Thermal Emission Imaging System
missions
- All Mars missions list
- Curiosity rover
- ExoMars
- Hope (al-Amal) orbiter
- InSight
- Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN)
- Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)
- Mars Express (MEX)
- Mars Odyssey
- Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) / Mangalyaan
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
- Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
- Perseverance Rover
- Tianwen-1 orbiter/rover
news
Tag Archives: solar activity
Space radiation increasing, becoming more hazardous for human explorers
As future missions look to travel back to the Moon or even to Mars, new research in Space Weather cautions that the exposure to radiation is much higher than previously thought and could have serious implications on both astronauts and … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged galactic cosmic rays, human exploration, ionizing radiation, solar activity, solar energetic particles, space radiation, sunspots
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Solar eruptions could electrify Martian moons
Powerful solar eruptions could electrically charge areas of the Martian moon Phobos to hundreds of volts, presenting a complex electrical environment that could possibly affect sensitive electronics carried by future robotic explorers, according to a new NASA study. The study … Continue reading
MAVEN: Large solar storm sparks global aurora, doubles radiation levels at surface
An unexpectedly strong blast from the Sun hit Mars this month, observed by NASA missions in orbit and on the surface. “NASA’s distributed set of science missions is in the right place to detect activity on the Sun and examine … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged aurora, Bradbury Rise, Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph, IUVS, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, MAVEN, NASA, RAD, Radiation Assessment Detector, solar activity, solar energetic particles, solar flares, space radiation, ultraviolet aurora, University of Colorado
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Mars mystery plumes caused by space weather?
Mysterious high-rise clouds seen appearing suddenly in the martian atmosphere on a handful of occasions may be linked to space weather, say Mars Express scientists. [The results are published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Amateur astronomers using telescopes on … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged atmosphere, clouds, ESA, European Space Agency, ionosphere, Mars Express, MEX, plume, solar activity, solar coronal mass ejections, solar energetic particles, solar flares, solar wind
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Protecting Mars astronauts from space radiation
On Aug. 7, 1972, in the heart of the Apollo era, an enormous solar flare exploded from the sun’s atmosphere. Along with a gigantic burst of light in nearly all wavelengths, this event accelerated a wave of energetic particles. Mostly … Continue reading
MAVEN: Mars & solar coronal mass ejections
Two main types of explosions occur on the Sun: solar flares and coronal mass ejections [CME]…giant clouds of solar material that take one to three days to reach Earth. [...] From Sept. 22 to 26, 2014, we explore different aspects … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, MAVEN, NASA, solar activity, solar coronal mass ejections, Sun, University of Colorado
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Radiation risks on manned Mars missions
The basic plan for an initial manned mission to Mars, including a landing, calls for a flight lasting about 430 days. While the mission would involve obvious dangers, among these — but often overlooked — are the risks posed by … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged galactic cosmic rays, human spaceflight, radiation, solar activity, Van Allen belts
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