Re: Martian windshiled wipers

From: N:dlzc D:aol T:com \(dlzc\) (net_at_nospam.com)
Date: 03/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 07:54:28 -0700

Dear CeeBee:

"CeeBee" <ceebeechester@start.com.au> wrote in message
news:Xns9622766818AD0ceebeechesterstartco@195.121.6.84...
> Some time ago the Mars Rover team reported an unexpected
> powerup of
> the Spirit rover, maybe due to a dust devil to cross the solar
> panels, wiping away some dust.
> Today APOD showed a picture of a possible dust devil near
> Spirit.
>
> I had the idea of fine dust not only covering the panels, but
> actually sticking to it as well, due to the very fine structure
> of
> the dust particles.
>
> I wonder if a mechanical device - the Rover equivalent of solar
> panel windshield wipers - would be a good or viable design /
> weight
> / energy tradeoff for extended missions. Or a budgetary
> tradeoff for
> that matter.

... or just tip the panel over and "tap" it.

David A. Smith

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  • Re: Martian windshiled wipers
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