Zhurong Lander/Rover, Surface Operations at Utopia Planitia Options

[nprev]

Per this source, landing currently scheduled for 14 May/2300 UTC. Please post any relevant information and updates here.

GO ZHURONG!!!!!

[serpens]

I wish the Chinese rover the same solar panel cleaning events and longevity as Spirit and Opportunity. Hopefully there will be the same openness with respect to image release.

[bobik]

I wish the Chinese rover the same solar panel cleaning events and longevity as Spirit and Opportunity.

Apparently they made some precautions, they applied a special microstructure coating on the solar panels to reduce friction between dust particles and surface, and the two side panels can be tilted by electric motors to remove accumulated dust by gravity and improve sun illumination.

[Greenish]

Agreed, bobik, thank you for this article which has a bunch of details I hadn't seen (though I'm realizing I have a lot to catch up on, so it's probably not new to everyone). In particular it points to a bunch of innovations motivated by lessons from prior US rovers and the Chang'e missions, among them:

(1) answers the question from upthread about the two circular features in the center of the rover top surface:

In addition to the solar panels, there are two circular films on the body of the rover, which look like a greenhouse. It is indeed a "greenhouse" for the rover, but there are no plant seeds in it, but phase change insulation materials....
...
If the control scheme on the moon is copied, even if the wake-sleep process will not affect the rover, the cumbersome start-up, self-check, and adjustment procedures will also Take up a lot of time. Therefore, the rover is also working at night.
...
During the day, "Zhu Rong" thermal insulation material liquefies to absorb heat, and at night it solidifies and releases heat. This special feature allows Zhu Rong to maintain a constant body temperature even under drastic changes in the external environment temperature, so that the various components it carries can work more stably and for a longer period of time.

(2) also mentions the ability to turn the wheels sideways 90 degrees and (!) unlock the suspension joints, using the wheel motors to raise or lower itself and "creep" out of any situation where it gets stuck. - Edit: here is a paper by the cited author on the subject: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/artic...094114X1830171X - paywall but with graphical abstract

[rlorenz]

n addition to the solar panels, there are two circular films on the body of the rover, which look like a greenhouse. It is indeed a "greenhouse" for the rover, but there are no plant seeds in it, but phase change insulation materials....
During the day, "Zhu Rong" thermal insulation material liquefies to absorb heat, and at night it solidifies and releases heat. This special feature allows Zhu Rong to maintain a constant body temperature even under drastic changes in the external environment temperature, so that the various components it carries can work more stably and for a longer period of time

IIRC Beagle 2 had a similar 'solar accumulator' feature. I suspect there's only a range of (small) vehicle sizes where they make sense. On the one hand it lets you store all the solar radiation as heat, so per unit area you are getting more joules into the system to tide you over the cold night. On the other hand, if you covered the same area with insulation and with solar cells, you'd only intercept 25% or so of the energy, but you'd be able to control it better as it's electricity in wires which you can switch easily. Above a certain size, that controllability is probably more important (rover overheating is often more of an issue than freezing..)