Sundial sitting on solar panels - Unmanned Spaceflight.com

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Sundial sitting on solar panels, A question about power requirements

djellison View Member Profile	Sep 5 2006, 02:08 PM Post #16
Administrator Group: Chairman Posts: 13245 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1	Top of the list in priority to be returned, but not the first image taken Doug

ElkGroveDan View Member Profile	Sep 5 2006, 02:55 PM Post #17
Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4500 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Sloughhouse, CA Member No.: 197	QUOTE (Jeff7 @ Sep 3 2006, 08:12 PM) 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." I work with the media and the press as part of my job. I've seen them say and do some really dumb things over the years, but that example has got to be one of the best I've ever seen. I'm going to save that in my "stupid things reporters say" file. -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.

Sep 6 2006, 03:20 PM

Post #18

XYL Code Genius

Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: 23-November 05
Member No.: 566

No way the sundial can shadow 5-10 cells from total 500 cells.

On the other hand, it takes some place, which could be used for cells.

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djellison View Member Profile	Sep 6 2006, 03:27 PM Post #19
Administrator Group: Chairman Posts: 13245 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1	It takes approx 2% of the deck area physically - area that could be repalced by solar cells - I think that was the argument being made. Doug

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