Mars Rover Gone Quiet

[Eric Mc]

It looks like the rover "Spirit" has put itself into "sleep" mode in an effort to weather a massive dust storm which is affecting its location. At the moment, NASA cannot contact it due to the fact that it has powered itself down.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/13/huge-dust-st...

[jmorgan]

Not read the link but a twitter picture had a before and after of the storm. Bit of a doozy. Think I had a look through a 18" the year there was a storm, not much detail. Not sure when I next get that chance.

Edit.

Here it is
https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/status/100705693...

Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 14th June 07:55

[Eric Mc]

I don't think scientists really understand why these storms brew up.

[jmorgan]

Remember reading a bit some time ago and the as the atmosphere is so thin, that had a part to play in it, in a counter intuitive way for the layman like me. Not sure where I read it, Sky at Night perhaps. All on electronic now and threw out anything paper except stuff with Apollo.

[Eric Mc]

What is largely unknown is what provides the additional energy the atmosphere needs to kick up these storms.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

What is largely unknown is what provides the additional energy the atmosphere needs to kick up these storms.

But the atmosphere is so thin it wouldn't take nearly as much energy for the same windspeed as it does on Earth.

Why does the Rover need to shut down when it's a bit windy?

[jmorgan]

Dust, solar energy......

I believe some of the rovers had issues and needed a blow to clear dust off the panels.

I expect that the batteries have a finite life and need to preserve certain functions so putting them to sleep helps with the unknown outcome of such storms.

[jmorgan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yeah, well, strictly speaking we are the aliens.

NASA controls Mars weather now......

[LivingTheDream]

Not really important but can I just point out....

Spirit died in 2010

Opportunity is currently in the storm

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

What is largely unknown is what provides the additional energy the atmosphere needs to kick up these storms.

But the atmosphere is so thin it wouldn't take nearly as much energy for the same windspeed as it does on Earth.

Why does the Rover need to shut down when it's a bit windy?

The solar panels are covered in dust - and so is the sky.

With light levels plummeting, power drops - so the rover goes into safe mode.

NASA is hopeful that it will wake up once the sky clears and the dust on the panels gets blown off.

Curiosity shouldn't have any issues like this because it is not a solar powered rover. Dust can cause other problems, however, like getting into equipment or causing joints and bearings to seize.

[MartG]

Simpo Two said:

Why does the Rover need to shut down when it's a bit windy?

Opportunity is solar powered - thanks to the dust obscuring the Sun, at the last contact daily energy had dropped from around 600Wh to only 22Wh, barely sufficient to keep the master timer running.

The rover is programmed to partially wake up after 72 hours in sleep mode to check if solar power has increased - if not it goes back to sleep for another 72 hours

[Simpo Two]

I see, thanks. So it has put itself to sleep not to 'weather' a storm (which sounds voluntary), but has no choice but to conk out as the power fades.

Nuclear, that's what you want.

[MartG]

Simpo Two said:

I see, thanks. So it has put itself to sleep not to 'weather' a storm (which sounds voluntary), but has no choice but to conk out as the power fades.

Nuclear, that's what you want.

Yup - which is why the nuclear powered Curiosity is unaffected

[Eric Mc]

Maybe they should have put a windmill on it too.

[Einion Yrth]

Even if the poor bugger will end up dying in a dusty shroud, the nominal mission duration was 90 days - 15 years ago. I'll raise a glass in appreciation of some staggeringly good engineering.

[Beati Dogu]

LivingTheDream said:

Not really important but can I just point out....

Spirit died in 2010

Opportunity is currently in the storm

We haven't had that spirit here since 1969 ....

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Maybe they should have put a windmill on it too.

Let's save the environment on Mars before we've even been there (and jeopardise the future of space exploration).

[Eric Mc]

Martian Sand Yacht - as envisioned by Ray Bradbury.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Eric Mc said:

Maybe they should have put a windmill on it too.

It doesn't go fast enough.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Martian Sand Yacht - as envisioned by Ray Bradbury.

Evidently there's a source of timber on Mars too!