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Old January 8th 04, 01:58 PM
Ian Stirling
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Default Mars Rover longevity again limited by dust build-up

Rodrigo Cunha wrote:
groutch wrote:
I was wondering why NASA accepts a shortened life for the Mars Rovers
due to "dust build-up on the solar panels".

Is cleaning them beyond their rocket scientists ?


I wouldn't bother too much with dust...

In Mars the wind will clean the dust, so there will never be too much on

snip
Presuming no other major failures occur I predict the rovers will never
fail dues to dust and will work for years.


Unfortunately, you seem unlikely to be right.
Look at the data from Mars Pathfinder.
The dust accumulates, and does not blow off.