Mars Rovers Return to Exploration

inkslinger77 writes "The two Mars rovers that have been carefully conserving critical power supplies since June, when the summer dust-storm season began on the red planet, are now springing back to work as the storms subside. Typically, the solar panels on each rover produce about 700 watt-hours of electricity per day — enough to light a 100-watt bulb for seven hours, according to NASA. But this year's dust storms reduced that to as little as 128 watt hours per day. When daily power generation is down to less than 400 watt-hours, the rovers suspend their driving on the planet and stop using their robotic arms, cameras and other instruments. But they are back in action now!"

Comments

Wattage

[empaler]

Typically, the solar panels on each rover produce about 700 watt-hours of electricity per day -- enough to light a 100-watt bulb for seven hours, according to NASA.

I'm so glad you cleared that up for me, I never would have been able to calculate those horrendously large numbers myself.

Hard Calculations

[GuldKalle]

enough to light a 100-watt bulb for seven hours, according to NASA Great thing we have NASA to make these insanely hard calculations, I would never have figured that out by myself