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I am sure it comes down to economics really, but I do wonder now about a mission in far future, that would clean solar panels of all those older missions to mak
by hawski 4y ago
I am sure it comes down to economics really, but I do wonder now about a mission in far future, that would clean solar panels of all those older missions to make them work again. For shits and giggles I guess.
- phone8675309 4y agoIIRC this was a plot point in The Martian
- hawski 4y agoOh, yes indeed. I forgot about that.
- danw1979 4y agoLike a long range Ingenuity helicopter that cruised the planet using its downwash to revive old rovers ?
- phpnode 4y agoThis idea gets brought up in every thread about Insight's dust issues - there is not enough air pressure on Mars for the downwash to clean the panels. For Ingenuity specifically the problem is that it is also far too far away - it would take over ten years for the chopper to reach Insight.
- dwringer 4y agoAfter a few months I can't even blow all the dust off surfaces in my apartment. I can only imagine years outside on Mars.
- timdiggerm 4y agoDon't underestimate the size of a planet
- bluGill 4y agoIt might be fun to try, but realistically, without heat, thermo issues will ensure that even if you did this the rovers wouldn't work anymore.