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Sol 206 Update On Curiosity From USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Sun Blasting Mars


Rather than continue with recovery efforts, MSL will be shut down due to intense solar activity. A big "coronal mass ejection" is predicted to hit Mars on Sol 207, so the rover will be commanded to go to sleep to avoid problems like the Sol 200 anomaly. Space weather can by nasty!

Written by Ken Herkenhoff, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center