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Mars Rovers Update

Posted by michael on from the never-will-play-the-wild-rover-no-more dept.

BoldAC writes "CNN is reporting that engineers will upload a software hack to decrease the recent power drain plaguing the rover Opportunity. The hack works by reducing the power supply to a poorly functioning switch." p3tersen writes "Opportunity has photographed a blue martian sunset (it's blue because of the optical scattering properties of dust in the martian atmosphere). In other news, the rovers are beginning to experience power supply problems due to the accumulation of dust on their solar panels."

6 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Solar problems by LotsaCaffeine · · Score: 5, Interesting

    NASA should have installed wiper blades on the solar panels.

    1. Re:Solar problems by ModernViking · · Score: 5, Interesting

      First, my credentials. I have worked on the field trials of the FIDO rover. It is the science test bed for the MER rovers that has been tested in various parts of the western United States over the past 6 years.

      There have been many ideas tested for the solar panels, including removable plastic coverings, wiper blades, etc. None of them have proven practical. The dust on Mars is extremely fine and electrostatically charged. It sticks to the panels , and every other surface, amazingly well. Figuring out a way to remove Martian dust from surfaces is a field that a lot of thought and experiment has gone into, without discovering any feasible solutions, so far.

      During the Pathfinder Mission in 1997, it was found that, by driving the rover over 'large' rocks (large for the rover), some of the larger dust can be shaken off. This is, as I've heard from members of the engineering team, something they intend to try with the MER rovers when needed. It doesn't make a huge improvement, on the order of a couple percent, but every little bit helps.

    2. Re:Solar problems by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 5, Interesting
      A vibrator? Might work although probably could be destructive...

      Hmm, after another 15 minutes of mental effort: a thin brush on an arm mounted to the side of the camera mast. You lower the (very thin and light single file brush) with a small step motor to the horizontal position and then you rotate the camera mast to create a sweeping motion on the panels. You could brush the 2 side panels that way, since if you planned for it, there would be no portruding gear to get in the way of the brush (all such gear would be back of the mast).

      And so on...

      I am really flabbergasted why there is absolutely no provision for any sort of cleaning (even a partial one) on the rovers. Its not like this wasnt expected. I smell some sort of hidden agenda in shortening the life of the rovers.

  2. This just in from Saturn by blamanj · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A nice photo from the Cassini mission.

  3. Seasonal changes by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The blurb fails to mention that seasonal changes on mars are resulting in less sunlight per sol. That is one of the main power issues.

    Dan East

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    Better known as 318230.
  4. The Martian Dust by Chris+Tucker · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The big problem is that the dust is so fine, it'd be very difficult to wipe it off with anything akin to a windshield wiper. You might remove the dust, but the grit would scratch the glass, eventually causing enough opacity that the panels would eventually be rendered useless.

    One thought I had was to gradually apply a charge to the solar panels and then suddenly apply an opposite charge, causing the dust to be repelled from the surface, to be carried away by the Martian winds.

    I've no idea if it would actually work or not, but it seemed an elegant solution that didn't require any moving parts.

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