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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,567 posts)
Wed Jun 13, 2018, 04:45 PM Jun 2018

NASA's Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the "worst dust storm we have ever seen" on Mars

RogueAltGov Retweeted:

NASA’s Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the “worst dust storm we have ever seen” on Mars; “very good chance” it does not survive. #SBAG


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NASA's Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the "worst dust storm we have ever seen" on Mars (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 OP
Well done exboyfil Jun 2018 #1
Could not say it better myself. +1000 bronxiteforever Jun 2018 #2
Representation of Opportunity. longship Jun 2018 #3
Hang tight buddy! Eko Jun 2018 #4
Mars mega-storm threatens Nasa rover after 14-year mission muriel_volestrangler Jun 2018 #5

exboyfil

(17,865 posts)
1. Well done
Wed Jun 13, 2018, 04:50 PM
Jun 2018

Good and faithful servant. Opportunity has been a slam dunk success. It has cheated death before, maybe it can again.

Hats off to the scientists and engineers that made it possible.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,347 posts)
5. Mars mega-storm threatens Nasa rover after 14-year mission
Thu Jun 14, 2018, 02:52 AM
Jun 2018
Officials said on Wednesday they were hopeful the rover would survive the storm, which already covers a quarter of Mars and is expected to encircle the planet in another few days. It could be weeks, or even months, until the sky clears enough for sunlight to reach the surface and recharge Opportunity’s batteries through its solar panels.
...
The rover’s batteries are likely so low that only a clock is still working, to wake the spacecraft for periodic power-level checks, according to officials. If the clock also goes offline, then the rover won’t know what time it is when it comes back on and could send back signals at any time.
...
In 2007, a massive dust storm kept Opportunity silent for a few days. It jumped back into action after awakening from its deep self-protecting slumber.
...
This time, the rover’s energy level is believed to be much lower. However, Martian summertime is approaching, which should keep temperatures up at night and prevent the batteries and other parts freezing. Besides electrical heaters, Opportunity is equipped with eight tiny plutonium-powered heaters.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/14/mars-storm-nasa-rover-opportunity
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