There are strong indications that dust is of great importance on Mars. Dust appears to have both long-term effects on the surface geologic evolution as well as on the aeolian processes in the present climate conditions. Early spacecraft missions [1] confirmed hypotheses from telescopic work that changes observed in the planet’s surface markings are caused by wind-driven redistribution of dust. Suspended dust is known to alter the atmospheric thermal structure and circulation as well as to obscure our ability for remote observation of the planet’s surface, especially during the occasional development of larger, planetencircling dust storms which occur on average once every three Martian years. Because of the possible high electrostatic charge of the dust and its strong adhesion properties, its deposition onto life support equipment could damage or degrade equipment, reducing the mission duration and endangering personnel. The inhalation of electrostatically charged airborne dust is also a health hazard to astronauts inside the habitat. In this paper, we discuss the obscuration of solar panels by: (1) a dust cloud over the panels, causing extinction of light reaching the solar cells even when the panels are relatively clean; (2) extinction of light due to dust deposition on the surface of the panel in a relatively clear sky; and (3) extinction caused by both high density particle cloud and a significant dust deposition on panels, conditions expected in dust storms on Mars. Electrostatic adhesion of charged particles on the panel surface is analyzed as a function of charge and size distributions to analyze possible dust removal processes.