Re: Martian windshiled wipers

From: David Tholen (davie.tholen_at_gmail.com)
Date: 03/24/05 

Date: 23 Mar 2005 22:26:45 -0800

Jonathan Silverlight wrote:
> In message <Xns9622766818AD0ceebeechesterstartco@195.121.6.84>,
CeeBee
> <ceebeechester@start.com.au> writes
> >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.
> >
> I doubt it, especially given
> a) the rovers are well past their designed mission life.
> b) future rovers are likely to be nuclear powered.
> c) the rovers are either taking care of themselves, or something is
> caring for them.
> Any mechanical wiper is just another moving part to go wrong and
perhaps
> do more harm than good.

Correct, Silverlight, it would most likely damage or affect the
panel's surface by rubbing grit into it.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Martian windshiled wipers
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