Mars Rovers Solar Power Info.

 Just thought there might be some people who might be interested in the solar
power supply on the two
Mars rovers.  The following was extracted from http://spaceflightnow.com/

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The daily power supply for each rover comes from 1.3 square meters (14 square
feet) of solar panels
converting sunlight into electricity. Just after the landings in January, the
output was about 900
watt-hours per day for each rover -- enough to run a 100-watt bulb for nine
hours. As anticipated,
output gradually declined due to dust buildup and the martian seasonal change
with fewer hours of
sunlight and a lower angle of the Sun in the sky. By July, Spirit's daily output
had declined to
about 400 watt-hours per day. It has been between 400 and 500 watt-hours per day
for most of the
past two months.

Opportunity, closer to Mars' equator and with the advantage of a sunward-facing
tilt as it explored
inside the southern half of a crater, maintained an output level between 500 and
600 watt-hours per
day in June, July and August. Since early September, the amount of electricity
from Opportunity's
solar panels has increased markedly and unexpectedly, to more than 700
watt-hours per day, a level
not seen since the first 10 weeks of the mission.

"We've been surprised but pleased to see this increase," said Erickson, "The
team is evaluating ways
to determine which of a few different theories is the best explanation."

Possible explanations under consideration include the action of wind removing
some dust from the
solar panels or the action of frost causing dust to clump. "We seem to have had
several substantial
cleanings of the solar panels," Erickson said.

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  Maybe it rained and they didn't put in a sensor to detect it?

LOL

solar power supply on the two

square feet) of solar panels

the output was about 900

nine hours. As anticipated,

change with fewer hours of

output had declined to

per day for most of the

sunward-facing tilt as it explored

500 and 600 watt-hours per

electricity from Opportunity's

watt-hours per day, a level

"The team is evaluating ways

removing some dust from the

have had several substantial

 


GOD Don't say that!!! or frikkin' Jonathan will be back here to annoy us
with his mindless blathering.

Andy

 In some places, vagrants will come up to cars stopped at a light to
clean the windshild for a buck or two... hmmmm...maybe...  :)


power supply on the two

feet) of solar panels

output was about 900

hours. As anticipated,

with fewer hours of

output had declined to

day for most of the

tilt as it explored

and 600 watt-hours per

from Opportunity's

watt-hours per day, a level

team is evaluating ways

some dust from the

several substantial

 Martian squeegee punks.. oh no! :-)