Mars Rovers Threatened By Dust Storms

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sunday July 8, 2007 @03:34AM from the batten-down-the-hatches dept.

mrcgran writes "Space.com is reporting a new potentially deadly weather condition threatening the Mars rovers: 'The first and largest dusty squall has reduced direct sunlight to Mars' surface by nearly 99 percent, an unprecedented threat for the solar-powered rovers. If the storm keeps up and thickens with even more dust, officials fear the rovers' batteries may empty and silence the robotic explorers forever. "This thing has been breaking records the past few days. The sun is 100 times fainter than normal. We're hoping for a big break in the storm soon, but that's just a hope." '"

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Re:Really? by nospam007 · 2007-07-08 04:37 · Score: 0, Redundant

They have. The problem is that the batteries also are providing power for heaters to keep the rover warm during the night. They probably won't (especially the batteries) survive a deep-freeze to -40C, so when sun starts shining again there may be too many things broken to start the rover up again.
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They survived several mars winters without moving, what's different here?