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Mars Rovers Threatened By Dust Storms

Posted by CmdrTaco on 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." '"

4 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. How convenient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Uh huh, sure its a dust storm. Translation: We just found something that requires this program to go black. Picture show over. Everything from here forward is classified and will never see the light of day.

    1. Re:How convenient by JimboFBX · · Score: -1, Troll

      Another post improperly modded as troll...

  2. Where is Al Gore when Mars needs him? by adsl · · Score: -1, Troll

    Solar warming is an inconvenient truth?

  3. Re:Mar Is Not So Hostile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    And if the rovers were here they could have been serviced in an entirely different manner.