Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The measurements carried out by the electric field probe onboard the PHOBOS‐2 spacecraft reveal that the mass‐loading taking place in the solar wind far upstream of the Martian bow shock is dependent upon the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field. The asymmetry of mass‐loading is caused by H + pickup ions originating from the extended cold hydrogen Martian exosphere and reflected from the bow shock. The distribution of pickup protons in the upstream region is analysed in a test particle approach, which seems to be confirmed by the Phobos data.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Dubinin et al. (1994) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: