Mars Rover dust experiment

A number of people complain about NASA not being able to clean it's solar
panels on the Mars rovers. While I think NASA messes up a lot, there are
things that just plain hard to solve no matter who you are.

To all those who say it would be easy for NASA to clean it's solar panels may
I suggest the following experiment. Find one used laser toner cartridge, it
will still have some toner inside. Now dump it's contents on a flat surface
like a desk or table and spread contents over the flat surface.

Using a hand broom or a vacumm in blow mode get rid of the extra loose dust.
What is left is what NASA needs to get rid off.

Now try cleaning that surface, if you succeed what was the *TOTAL* mass of
the supplies used? This means not only any fluids you used but also the
container, all dust colths, all paper towels - EVERYTHING USED to the
cleaning. Now how mauch extra to do the same cleaning again and again and
again? Adds up doesn't it?

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

"Earl Colby Pottinger" wrote in message
...
A number of people complain about NASA not being able to clean it's solar
panels on the Mars rovers. While I think NASA messes up a lot, there are
things that just plain hard to solve no matter who you are.

To all those who say it would be easy for NASA to clean it's solar panels
may
I suggest the following experiment. Find one used laser toner cartridge,
it
will still have some toner inside. Now dump it's contents on a flat
surface
like a desk or table and spread contents over the flat surface.

Using a hand broom or a vacumm in blow mode get rid of the extra loose
dust.
What is left is what NASA needs to get rid off.

Now try cleaning that surface, if you succeed what was the *TOTAL* mass of
the supplies used? This means not only any fluids you used but also the
container, all dust colths, all paper towels - EVERYTHING USED to the
cleaning. Now how mauch extra to do the same cleaning again and again and
again? Adds up doesn't it?

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

So what you're really saying is that HP and Epson are going to be bidding to
take ownership of the martian toner thats all over the planet huh? Can't
wait!

Niko Holm
----------------------------
- Sydlexics are teople poo - Author unknown
----------------------------

I thik the solution is even simplyer.

They should put on panels a few layers of peel off clear foils.And then use
the robot arm to take them off from time to time.

Foil is light and does not cost a dime comparing to anything else.


adriatic



"Earl Colby Pottinger" wrote in message
...
A number of people complain about NASA not being able to clean it's solar
panels on the Mars rovers. While I think NASA messes up a lot, there are
things that just plain hard to solve no matter who you are.

To all those who say it would be easy for NASA to clean it's solar panels
may
I suggest the following experiment. Find one used laser toner cartridge,
it
will still have some toner inside. Now dump it's contents on a flat
surface
like a desk or table and spread contents over the flat surface.

Using a hand broom or a vacumm in blow mode get rid of the extra loose
dust.
What is left is what NASA needs to get rid off.

Now try cleaning that surface, if you succeed what was the *TOTAL* mass of
the supplies used? This means not only any fluids you used but also the
container, all dust colths, all paper towels - EVERYTHING USED to the
cleaning. Now how mauch extra to do the same cleaning again and again and
again? Adds up doesn't it?

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

"Earl Colby Pottinger" wrote

To all those who say it would be easy for NASA to clean it's solar panels
may
I suggest the following experiment. Find one used laser toner cartridge,
it
will still have some toner inside. Now dump it's contents on a flat
surface
like a desk or table and spread contents over the flat surface.

So what you're really saying is that HP and Epson are going to be bidding to
take ownership of the martian toner thats all over the planet huh? Can't
wait!

Niko Holm
----------------------------
- Sydlexics are teople poo - Author unknown
----------------------------