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Spirit cleaner?
alan
post Jun 18 2007, 06:44 AM
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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.

Attached Image

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
Attached Image


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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akuo
post Jun 18 2007, 09:06 AM
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The lighting would appear to be almost exactly the same, as the shadow positions are almost exact.

I think you are correct about the changes you point out. I imagine the overall cleaning effect would be small, though.


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jmjawors
post Jun 18 2007, 11:42 AM
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Just saw the latest images and rushed here to find out what more knowledgeable people were saying about it. But my impression was also that she's had a cleaning event.


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centsworth_II
post Jun 18 2007, 03:33 PM
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The definitive answer would come in the form of a boost in power.... waiting... hoping...
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fredk
post Jun 19 2007, 03:50 AM
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Yes! We're above 600 Whr!! biggrin.gif

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/sta...ll.html#sol1219
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dvandorn
post Jun 19 2007, 04:11 AM
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When you look at the rocks in specific and the surface in general, it sort of makes sense that an object like a MER would get wind-cleaned several times over the course of a Martian year.

If there was nothing happening on this surface except steady dust accumulation, the local surface would be buried in millions of years' worth of dustfall. The winds have to be capable of moving the dust along, or else the rocks would have dust caps and be buried in airfall dust. The fact that the rocks are not generally dust-covered (and are in fact aeolian-sculpted) and the soil is not completely covered with airfall dust argues for enough wind to blow the dust off the rocks at a greater rate than the dust falls out of the air.

Of course, no one could have known if the periodicity of deposition/deflation events would be timed well enough to keep a solar powered rover working over a long haul. And extreme dustfall events, like global dust storms, would still probably doom a MER. But, on average, what we observe on the scene suggests an environment where solar panels will be cleaned just slightly more than they will be dirtied.

If you want more proof of this general charateristic of Mars, look at the HiRISE images of the Vikings. They retain some of their blue-white coloration to this day, which means they have been cleaned more than they have been dirtied. It's only a gross confirmation, but it suggests that objects on Mars won't become (or remain) completely dust-covered on the scale of decades to centuries.

-the other Doug


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mhoward
post Jun 19 2007, 04:12 AM
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QUOTE (fredk @ Jun 19 2007, 03:50 AM) *
Yes! We're above 600 Whr!! biggrin.gif


The news we've all been waiting for! biggrin.gif
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dvandorn
post Jun 19 2007, 04:13 AM
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Oh, yes, and I forgot to add: Above 600 Whr!!!! Hallelujah!!!!!!

-the other Doug


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slinted
post Jun 19 2007, 04:33 AM
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This is great news! That great a percentage increase is impressive, considering just how dusty Spirit was.

Here's a pancam comparison between sol 1213 and 1223, showing one spot (also visible in alan's images above) partially cleaned by the wind:
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CosmicRocker
post Jun 19 2007, 04:33 AM
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Alan: You're the man with the first good news in a long time. smile.gif Congratulations. smile.gif

I recently noticed some DDs apparently moving toward Spirit, which seems to be an unusual direction for them. cool.gif

Very good points, O'Doug.


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Jeff7
post Jun 19 2007, 05:03 AM
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Most excellent news. smile.gif biggrin.gif
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ElkGroveDan
post Jun 19 2007, 06:04 AM
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OK where's Helvick? We want to see that chart now!


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djellison
post Jun 19 2007, 08:08 AM
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Looks like a self portrait was put in work yesterday after the cleaning. I'm REALLY out of stitching practice ohmy.gif
Attached thumbnail(s)
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akuo
post Jun 19 2007, 08:22 AM
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The solar cells looks patchy, like the wind cleaned some parts and left clumps of dust behind. This is in contrast to the overall hazy appearance of Spirit's deck previously.

Great news about the power levels!


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helvick
post Jun 19 2007, 08:41 AM
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We're well past the edge of my charts now and my extrapolations would appear to have been too conservative. I had thought she was at slightly below 400whr prior to this cleaning event but it appears that she was actually about 100whr higher. This is probably due to errors in the insolation\atmosphere model that I used (which is based on pre pathfinder data IIRC) and an over aggressive estimation of dust deposition.

I'll rebuild the chart and try to adjust for the errors to see what that produces. It will take a day or two though to dust them off, so to speak.

Great news though - this gives her another respectable extension on her life expectancy.
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