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I understand that messages between Earth and Mars take minutes to arrive. What I don’t understand is why missions also pause some commanding around Mars solar conjunction.
Is the problem that the Sun physically blocks the radio path, that material around the Sun interferes with the signal, or that the connection becomes too unreliable for commands even when some data can still get through?
I’m especially curious about the difference between receiving spacecraft telemetry and sending instructions. Can a rover keep following a preloaded schedule and store observations during this period, or does it normally have to stop most activities?
