New research looks at how dust storms and a thin atmosphere may play into alternative energy sources on the Red Planet.
(Inside Science) — Mars is known for its dust storms, which can cause problems for lander equipment and block out the sun that fuels solar panels. These punishing storms, which can last for weeks, have already caused damage to equipment and even killed NASA’s Opportunity rover. But they could also be dangerous to astronauts on the ground, who would rely on solar power for oxygen, heat, and water cleansing during future missions.
Vera Schorbach, a professor of wind …
