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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Jul 11 2007, 03:02 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I'm sure I heard 3x (i.e. 270 sols for MER )
Doug |
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Jul 11 2007, 05:37 PM
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#3
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Dublin Correspondent Group: Admin Posts: 1799 Joined: 28-March 05 From: Celbridge, Ireland Member No.: 220 |
I'm sure I heard 3x (i.e. 270 sols for MER ) I heard that somewhere too but it always depends on what you mean by "margin". The solar panel requirements for the rovers specified that they had to deal with a predicted dust loss rate of 0.18% per Sol which left them at around 700Whr after 90 sols, 600 after 180 sols and 500 after 270 sols. If that rate had been seen consistently throughout the mission with no cleaning Spirit could have lasted until somewhere between sol 750 and 800. You might read that as a 7 or 8x margin. However the initial power requirement was to be able to deliver a minimum of around 350-400 Whr/sol at 90 Sols so the initial design really only gave about a 2x margin after 90 sols and given that a single storm like the one we are seeing right now would reduced that to zero, you could argue that there was no margin at all. |
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