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by ctrlaltesc 5051 days ago
Just to answer the example: Mars does not have a magnetic field of significant strength. Curiosity needs shielding on the surface.

Perfectly reasonable question though.

1 comments

Sorry but I could not understand the shielding on surface. What is this shielding for?
On Earth due to our magnetic field and outer atmosphere the radiation that gets fired at us constantly is massively reduced, on the surface of Mars the rover still needs to be shielded against radiation as there's nothing similar to protect it.
Radiation, such as cosmic rays and solar flare output. The Earth has a magnetic field which pulls such charged radiation to the poles; Mars has much less of that effect.