Spirit cleaner? |
Spirit cleaner? |
Jun 18 2007, 06:44 AM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1887 Joined: 20-November 04 From: Iowa Member No.: 110 |
I've been keeping an eye on the sundial images looking for signs of a cleaning event. I've noticed some changes in the latest to be downloaded although they may be due to changes in the lighting.
A : clean patch at top of circle streak at bottom B : increased contrast from dust left behind next to mirror C : clean patch next to wire Also note the missing clumps of dust on the deck A broader view show a contrast between sol 1221 and 1227 http://207.7.139.5/mars/spirit/navcam/2007...I4P0165L0M1.JPG http://207.7.139.5/mars/spirit/navcam/2007...00P1914L0M1.JPG Has anyone heard if there has been a change in the power levels? |
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Jun 22 2007, 02:14 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 447 Joined: 1-July 05 From: New York City Member No.: 424 |
Pete Theisinger was asked about closing the solar panels in an effort to get rid of dust on a webcast that I've seen. (I believe that it was during the Q&A after a von Kármán Lecture given before the rovers landed.)
In light of the risk that the panels would not reopen, he said (to paraphrase) that he could not conceive of a circumstance that would justify taking such a risk. And of course the dust is "sticky," so the potential benefit might be very little. TTT |
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Jun 22 2007, 02:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
...closing the solar panels... I'd find it hard to believe that there is even a way to do this. I would assume they were designed to lock in the open position. I'm sure it would take a whole different design, with different latches, and motors to accomplish this. The intent was to open the panels and leave them open. The design would have been the minimum required to do this reliably and nowhere near as complex as that needed to reclose and reopen them. |
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