Bethany Ehlmann, a distinguished professor of planetary science at Caltech and the president of the nonprofit Planetary Society, is eagerly anticipating her first total solar eclipse experience in Fredericksburg, Texas. The Planetary Society has gathered in Fredericksburg to witness this celestial event, and Ehlmann is looking forward to being fully present in the moment.
While Ehlmann is excited about the upcoming total solar eclipse on Earth, her thoughts may briefly drift to the red planet, Mars, where eclipses are a common occurrence. Ehlmann mentioned that on Mars, eclipses can be visible approximately three times a day due to the movements of its two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Although the Martian moons are not large enough to create a total eclipse like those seen on Earth, they do obstruct some of the sun's rays from reaching Mars as they pass in front of the sun. These eclipses play a crucial role in Ehlmann's work as the lead investigator for NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission, a satellite mission set to launch later this year to search for water on Mars' surface.
Ehlmann emphasized the significance of monitoring eclipses on Mars, as they can impact the power supply of Martian spacecraft that rely on solar energy to operate. Engineers and scientists, including Ehlmann, must design spacecraft systems to withstand the variations in power caused by these eclipses.
Regarding the Lunar Trailblazer mission, Ehlmann highlighted that all power and battery systems have been specifically optimized to endure the challenges posed by eclipses on Mars. This meticulous planning ensures that the spacecraft can continue its mission effectively, even during periods of reduced solar energy availability.
