Radiation Surge on Mars: NASA Watches Red Planet Light Up During Epic Solar Storm

In addition to producing stunning auroras, a recent extreme storm provided more detail on how much radiation future astronauts could encounter on the Red Planet.

NASA’s rovers and orbiters observed significant solar flares and coronal mass ejections, with an X12 solar flare hitting Mars on May 20. This event showed potential radiation doses for astronauts and caused visual disturbances on Mars’ equipment. Data from these observations will assist in planning radiation protection and future missions, including the upcoming ESCAPADE mission.