Solar conjunction should cause dimming in communications with Mars

Mars is today the main research target of space agencies around the world. With many mysteries to be solved and resources to be obtained, the investment to reach the Red Planet is increasing every year. However, November will be a complicated month. American space agency NASA, preparing for a break in communication with our neighbor.

So what happens when communication systems encounter problems? Actually it’s nothing new. HE The event takes place every two years and is scheduled to last until November 25. This is a solar conjunction.

Solar Conjunction

A. Solar conjunction is a natural event that is usually short-lived.. It occurs when the Sun blocks two objects in space, in this case two planets. Although it has occurred billions of times throughout the history of the universe, humanity has recently begun to pay more attention to this phenomenon, ever since its arrival on Mars.

However, this incident is directly linked to the communication problems that will occur in the coming weeks. This is because the Sun is located between the two planets. interferes directly with radio broadcastsmaking it nearly impossible to send information this way.

Moreover, probes and ships that rely on resources or sunlight to obtain energy will also face greater difficulties during this period. To better understand the impact of solar conjunction on the relationship between Earth and Mars, we need to understand some basic concepts, including the translational motion of each planet.

translation movement

As you probably already know, the Earth year lasts approximately 365 days. This happens due to the Earth’s motion around the Sun being pulled by solar gravity. It is estimated that our planet moves at a speed of 107 thousand kilometers per hour and completes its orbit in the year we know as the Earth year.

But Mars has a different orbit and a different speed of motion. Mars’ orbit is not only longer than Earth’s, but also slower, moving at about 86 thousand kilometers per hour. This results in an average of 687 Earth days to complete the translation movement.

This has everything to do with the communication problems space agencies will face in the coming weeks. Since two planets move at different speeds, there are times when they come close to each other on the same side of the Sun.

It is much easier to send probes and exploration ships when distances are short. It is precisely during this period that space agencies focus their investments on launches and missions to the red planet. But every two years, Earth and Mars find themselves at their furthest point, blocked by the sun. This event is called solar conjunction..

So, although it is a problem, this phenomenon is already widely known by space programs around the world, which have been planning to confront it for a long time.

NASA, for example, has sent out a set of instructions for the period, and new orders should only be placed after the end of the solar conjunction. Data storage needs to be done locally and will only be sent to Earth after November 25 to avoid any risk of loss.

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