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I am a bit confused by the "Massive" statement. I understand that Mars has barely any atmospheric pressure, therefore, any "Massive" storm would be a gentle wi

I am a bit confused by the "Massive" statement. I understand that Mars has barely any atmospheric pressure, therefore, any "Massive" storm would be a gentle wind. If fact, Andy Weir, the author of the "Martian", called the beginning of the book where the hero gets stabbed by a metal rod during the massive storm a complete fabrication for the purposes of the story and impossible in real life.

Rebelgecko 8y ago
I think they're calling it massive because the storm covers 1/4 of the planet and is still growing
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petascale 8y ago
Massive in extent, it covers large parts of the planet, and in duration, could last for weeks or months. The threat to Opportunity isn't that the storm could rip it apart. It's that even a low-pressure wind can lift a lot of fine dust which blocks out the sun and leaves the rover without power from its solar panel. If it lasts too long the rover could literally freeze to death. NASA has an image from another major storm in 2007 [1], it blocked 99% of the sunlight. This one is worse.[2] [1] https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/7948/a-darkened-mars-sky/ https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/7948/a-darkened-mars-sky/ [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/8qvnrw/mars_rover_opportunity_has_survived_5161_days/e0mt3z0/ https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/8qvnrw/mars_rover_op...
elihu 8y ago
As you say, direct damage from wind isn't a major risk on Mars, contrary to the book. However, dust storms do happen, and according to the article they can affect huge areas and block out most of the sunlight.
- citrablue 8y ago
  Is the idea that this one lasts long enough that it deposits sand on my friend's panels, and they doesn't have enough backup juice by then to move/clean it off?
  - hurrrrr 8y ago
    From what I heard buildup on the panels isn't that big a deal because the wind also blows it away. But if sunlight is cut off too long the battery becomes empty and the heaters won't work anymore. So it would literally freeze to death.
duxup 8y ago
The amount of light being blocked is supposed to be unusually high.
Tepix 8y ago
It's only letting 0.002% of sunlight through.
InclinedPlane 8y ago
The endangerment part comes not due to the wind but from the dust, which blocks out the sun remarkably effectively and for extended periods of time. This is an existential threat for a solar powered probe. Opportunity won't get blown over, knocked around, nor impaled by a metal rod, but it will be (has been already) starved of power. There are key elements of the rover which require active heating, the rover is fully capable of "freezing to death" if it spends to long without power.

Rebelgecko 8y ago

I think they're calling it massive because the storm covers 1/4 of the planet and is still growing

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petascale 8y ago

Massive in extent, it covers large parts of the planet, and in duration, could last for weeks or months. The threat to Opportunity isn't that the storm could rip it apart. It's that even a low-pressure wind can lift a lot of fine dust which blocks out the sun and leaves the rover without power from its solar panel. If it lasts too long the rover could literally freeze to death. NASA has an image from another major storm in 2007 [1], it blocked 99% of the sunlight. This one is worse.[2] [1] https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/7948/a-darkened-mars-sky/ https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/7948/a-darkened-mars-sky/ [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/8qvnrw/mars_rover_opportunity_has_survived_5161_days/e0mt3z0/ https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/8qvnrw/mars_rover_op...

elihu 8y ago

As you say, direct damage from wind isn't a major risk on Mars, contrary to the book. However, dust storms do happen, and according to the article they can affect huge areas and block out most of the sunlight.

citrablue 8y ago
Is the idea that this one lasts long enough that it deposits sand on my friend's panels, and they doesn't have enough backup juice by then to move/clean it off?
- hurrrrr 8y ago
  From what I heard buildup on the panels isn't that big a deal because the wind also blows it away. But if sunlight is cut off too long the battery becomes empty and the heaters won't work anymore. So it would literally freeze to death.

duxup 8y ago

The amount of light being blocked is supposed to be unusually high.

Tepix 8y ago

It's only letting 0.002% of sunlight through.

InclinedPlane 8y ago

The endangerment part comes not due to the wind but from the dust, which blocks out the sun remarkably effectively and for extended periods of time. This is an existential threat for a solar powered probe. Opportunity won't get blown over, knocked around, nor impaled by a metal rod, but it will be (has been already) starved of power. There are key elements of the rover which require active heating, the rover is fully capable of "freezing to death" if it spends to long without power.