'Shielding life on Mars': How to protect humans from the perils of Red Planet's solar storm radiation
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Mars' Vulnerability to Space Radiation
Mars lacks a protective magnetosphere and has a thin atmosphere, about 1% of Earth's, which exposes the planet to high-energy radiation from space, including protons, ions, neutrons, and gamma rays. Solar energetic particles (SEPs), emitted during solar storms, pose a significant risk to astronauts on Mars.
NASA's Efforts in Space Weather Monitoring
NASA and NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center are developing strategies to protect astronauts on Mars from solar storms. These include monitoring and predicting space weather to provide advanced warnings of potential radiation threats during missions.
Communication Delays
Due to the communication delay between Earth and Mars, astronauts must independently assess space weather conditions on Mars. NASA is working on tools and models to help crews on Mars evaluate and respond to solar storms without waiting for instructions from Earth.
Real-Time Monitoring with MAVEN and ESCAPADE
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft currently monitors the Martian atmosphere's response to solar radiation. Later this year, the ESCAPADE mission, consisting of two additional spacecraft, will join MAVEN in orbit, enhancing the ability to observe and predict space weather impacts on Mars.
Credit: Rocket Lab
Recent Solar Storms and Radiation Exposure
In May 2024, a strong solar flare and subsequent coronal mass ejection sent radiation towards Mars, observed by MAVEN and other instruments like the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on NASA's Curiosity rover. This event highlighted the need for better protective measures for future human missions.
Challenges in Predicting Space Weather on Mars
There are significant observational gaps in current space weather prediction models for Mars, particularly due to the lack of data from critical points like the Sun-Mars Lagrange Point 1. NASA is working to improve these models to provide more accurate and timely predictions.
Credit: NASA
Earth-Independent Space Weather Capabilities
For future Mars missions, NASA envisions developing space weather prediction systems that are fully independent of Earth. These systems would be integrated into crew vehicles, allowing astronauts to assess and respond to radiation risks in real-time without relying on delayed communication from Earth.