Unmanned Spaceflight.com > The Planetary Society Mars Rovers Update (June 30, 2009)

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Unmanned Spaceflight.com > Mars & Missions > MER > Opportunity

Bobby

Jul 4 2009, 09:04 PM

Happy 4th USA

Here is the latest update on our Rovers:

http://www.planetary.org/news/2009/0630_Ma...ate_Spirit.html

BrianL

Jul 5 2009, 04:03 AM

So, they are now considering experimenting with intentionally locking up the RF wheel. Good idea.

CosmicRocker

Jul 6 2009, 04:45 AM

I thought that was a good idea when you first proposed it. This update also mentioned a local Venturi effect at Spirit's location, which may be cleaning the solar panels. I think I first read about that concept in this forum, too.

climber

Jul 6 2009, 06:57 PM

QUOTE (CosmicRocker @ Jul 6 2009, 06:45 AM)

...This update also mentioned a local Venturi effect at Spirit's location, which may be cleaning the solar panels. I think I first read about that concept in this forum, too.

I think so

I first proposed Venturi effect for Larry's look-out significant cleaning and again were we are now. It's nice to be proved to be right once in a while

Anyway, I'm still puzzled by such a big cleaning by Venturi effect knowing how thin the atmosphere is.

serpens

Jul 6 2009, 11:37 PM

QUOTE (climber @ Jul 6 2009, 07:57 PM)

I'm still puzzled by such a big cleaning by Venturi effect knowing how thin the atmosphere is.

Well the dust on the panels is airfall and ultra fine (I think SQ made an analogy to cigarette smoke) so it should be easy to loft with increased windspeed. But there is no real evidence that this event was anything more significant than dust devil action - particularly given the large DD animation on the Spirit thread.

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