4. Solar Particle Events (SPEs) Can Be Intense
Mars isn’t just bombarded by steady cosmic rays—solar particle events (SPEs) can unleash sudden, intense blasts of radiation. Triggered by solar flares and coronal mass ejections, these outbursts can dramatically spike radiation levels on the Martian surface in a matter of hours. The European Space Agency warns that unpredictable SPEs represent a serious threat for both astronauts and sensitive electronics on Mars.