Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals
Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals
The Spin
MarsNew research tracking over 1,000 Martian dust devils packoffers fara morecrucial punchroadmap thanfor previouslyfuture understood,Mars withmissions. newBy researchconverting decades of orbital images into precise wind measurements — revealing windsspeeds reachingup to 160 km/h, —far much faster than groundpreviously measurementsestimated suggested.— Theseand powerfulmapping whirlwindstheir occurseasonal acrossand thedaily entirepatterns, planetscientists andcan movebetter fasterpredict thandust currentaccumulation weatheron modelsrover predictsolar panels, demandingevaluate seriouslanding considerationsite forconditions, and plan operations, turning what was once background “noise” on Mars into actionable mission planningintelligence.
MarsWhile Martian dust stormsdevils posemay minimalbe threatfaster tothan futureoriginally astronautsthought, despitehistorical observations suggest the planet’s ultra-thin atmosphere limits their dramaticdestructive reputationpower. WindWinds, speedseven maxin outglobal atstorms, justrarely 60exceed mph97 withkm/h, Mars'making ultra-thinmajor atmosphereequipment providingdamage onlyunlikely. 1%Dust ofaccumulation Earth'son densitysolar panels and mechanical components remains a real operational challenge, makingbut eventhese theeffects strongestare stormstypically incapablemanageable, ofoffering damagingengineers majorpredictable equipmentconditions orfor strandingplanning explorerslanders, rovers and future human missions.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 0.1% chance that SpaceX will land people on Mars by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
The Controversies
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