Ancient Solar Superflare Suggests Risks for Mars Missions

When a powerful "superflare" from the sun scoured the solar system more than 1,200 years ago, it apparently had little effect on Earth's inhabitants — but today's astronauts wouldn't be so lucky, scientists said. New research suggests that an event of that magnitude would greatly endanger current plans for space travel, with astronauts standing a good chance of receiving lethal doses of radiation. Solar eruptions occur regularly, sometimes wreaking havoc on Earth.