Curiosity sleeps as solar blast races toward Mars

Source: Associated Press

Curiosity hunkered down after the sun unleashed a blast that raced toward Mars.

While the hardy rover was designed to withstand punishing space weather, its handlers decided to power it down as a precaution since it suffered a recent computer problem.

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Since its instruments are turned off, it can't use its radiation sensor to track the solar particles.

"It's just bad timing," Cook said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/curiosity-sleeps-solar-blast-races-toward-mars-195607889.html

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Too bad the radiation sensors are off, it would have been a good opportunity to see how much protection the atmosphere provides from solar flares.