This year the Sun is reaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study in detail the effects of powerful solar storms and radiation emissions on future human missions to Mars.

In the coming months, NASA’s two Mars probes—the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter and the Curiosity rover—will work together to study how intense X-class solar flares and high-energy particle emissions could affect robotic machines and the future. Martian settlers.

The solar maximum period, which occurs every 11 years, is characterized by increased flare activity on the Sun. Meanwhile, our star emits powerful radiation and plasma streams, coronal mass ejections and radiation storms into space.

On Earth, a strong magnetic field effectively protects the planet and its inhabitants from the devastating effects of these cosmic cataclysms. But Mars’ loss of its global magnetic field over billions of years has made its surface much more vulnerable to radiation from the Sun. By examining data during the current cycle of maximum solar activity, scientists hope to get an answer to how dangerous powerful solar storms can be for the inhabitants of the Red Planet.

“For people and objects on the surface of Mars, we do not have a clear picture of how solar radiation may affect them during periods of high activity. It is important for space agencies to determine the level of radiation protection required before sending astronauts to Mars,” said Shannon Curry of the University of Colorado, principal investigator of the MAVEN orbiter. “I want to capture a strong flare, or emission, on Mars this year so we can study solar radiation in detail,” he explains.

MAVEN orbits Mars, observing the flow of solar particles, radiation and other processes in the upper layers of the thin Martian atmosphere. But the intensity of radiation on the surface of the planet can vary significantly. Therefore, a comprehensive study requires the inclusion of data from the second device – the Curiosity rover with the radiation detector RAD (Radiation Assessment Detector).

“We can capture a million low-energy particles or just a dozen extremely energetic particles. While MAVEN is more sensitive to low-energy particles in the atmosphere, RAD is the only device capable of tracking high-energy radiation particles reaching the surface of Mars, the environment in which future astronauts will have to work,” explains RAD chief researcher Don Southwest Hassler. Research Institute.

The RAD detector provided scientists with valuable data on the effects of radiation on organic compound molecules on the Martian surface; this process may impact the preservation of potential biosignatures from ancient Martian microorganisms. RAD also made it possible to assess the level of radiation threat to astronauts and determine which Martian shelters (caves, lava tubes or rock outcroppings) would provide the best protection.

When MAVEN detects a powerful solar flare or eruption, the spacecraft team immediately notifies Curiosity. This allows Martian rovers to quickly activate all radiation sensors and monitor changes in particle fluxes from the solar corona to the Martian surface with temporal resolution of up to one second.

A combination of orbital and surface observations during the current solar maximum will help scientists comprehensively assess solar radiation risks and develop reliable protections for Mars explorers.

In addition to examining the risks to astronauts, observing the solar maximum on Mars will also help understand how hot and humid ancient Mars became the icy desert of today.

The planet is now closest to the Sun, which heats the atmosphere and causes powerful dust storms. At the same time, some of the remaining atmospheric moisture rises to great heights, where it can be pushed into space by solar radiation. Scientists suggest that repeating this cycle over thousands of years could lead to the disappearance of most of the water on Mars.

If a strong global storm coincides with a strong solar maximum outburst, this will test this hypothesis. Although global storms are rare, a combination of positive factors has planetary scientists looking forward to the current peak of solar activity.