R
Richard
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
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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Mars rovers. The following was extracted from http://spaceflightnow.com/
++++++++++++++++++++
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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