[X] My Assistant

[karolp]

I am currently digging in the Planetary Radio archives and heared Bill Nye saying that the Mars sundial sitting on the solar panels takes about 1 to 2 percent of power by covering them. The sundial itself is of course a great outreach idea and probably does not affect the mission as Bill said. BUT: what if the 2 percent were the LAST 2 percent left? What is the minimum power requirement for MERs? And namely a) for being able to rove for being able to use the RAT c) for being able to sit calmly and just send data to the orbiters. No intention to question the "Two Worlds One Sun" thing, I really love it. Just made me curious about the power as it might be relevant in speculations about their expected lifespan.

[Jeff7]

But is the "mast" portion of the sundial truly necessary? Aren't the colored portions, mirrors, and B&W circles the truly important parts?


The real problem is that the fans aren't good enough.

"Mars is very dusty; it was thought that dust coating the solar panels may kill the rovers by choking out the sunlight. Designers worried about it so much, the rovers actually have small fans designed to blow dust off the panels. But the fans have gotten a boost."

[RNeuhaus]

The real problem is that the [ the rovers actually have small fans designed to blow dust off the panels.[/b] But the fans have gotten a boost."

I learned it too late!!! I haven't tought that MER has a small fan pointing to sundial? I haven't see it on the picture?

I have enclosed the picture which shows sundial and their blowers at right and left sides. Correct me!



Rodolfo