The Storm, Dust storm of 2007 Options

[OWW]

Oh no...This is getting bad:

The new and potentially bleak outlook is a stark shift from the prognosis earlier this week.

The dusty squall has reduced direct sunlight to Mars' surface by nearly 99 percent, an unprecedented threat for the solar-powered robotic explorers. If the storm keeps up and thickens with even more dust, officials fear the rovers' batteries may empty and silence the robotic explorers forever.

Opportunity's energy-gathering ability has been slashed to a dangerous 280 watt-hours-enough power to light only three 90-watt light bulbs.

"The worst-case scenario is that enough dust in the sky decreases solar energy to the point that we have to shut down too many things to save power," Lemmon said. "The rovers keep their battery alive by keeping their electronics alive."

"The reality of the situation is that we're limited as to what we can do from the ground by cutting power use," Callas said. "If it continues to worsen and stay that way, it's a survivability issue for Opportunity. If Mars wants to kill the rovers, it can."

http://www.space.com/news/070705_dusty_rovers.html

[Juramike]

Too true.

How about a tiltable or foldable solar array? A few flicks or turning it to vertical might be able to shake dust off?

A tilting solution for the array would probably be much smaller and lightweight to add on than a compressor and tank: (worm gear drive?, few bonus hinges and struts?). The will allow some directional tilt (not in all directions). This could also allow the future rover to stay reasonably in place rather than having to find the perfect slope to park. (It might still have to swivel in place to get the right angle in conjunction with tilting the array).

There'd have to be a decent cost/benefit analysis done to see if a solution would justify the weight. But at least we could use the number of times the current rovers needed to be moved into favorable position to help figure the benefit.

-Mike

[djellison]

How about a tiltable or foldable solar array?

My TV screen is vertical...and the dust doesn't fall of. Nor will it fall off if I shake it. Same would probably be true of the rovers.

The answers are RTG's when you can use them - and potentially electrostatic methods when you can't - which have no moving parts at all

Doug

[Juramike]

My TV screen is vertical...and the dust doesn't fall of. Nor will it fall off if I shake it. Same would probably be true of the rovers.

The answers are RTG's when you can use them - and potentially electrostatic methods when you can't - which have no moving parts at all

Doug

Hmmm. Good points.

But even with an RTG, there will be some dust accumulation where you don't want it: camera lenses (as we're seeing), and in all those itchy nooks and crannies.

-Mike