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Izawwlgood t1_j0z8sqd wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Perseverance: Nasa Mars rover to lay down rocks for Earth return. by FINCoffeeDaddy

You are correct that the dust storms on Mars are moving less material than dust storms on Earth. That doesn't mean things left on the surface cannot be buried. It's not a bad question, and doesn't deserve your knee jerk shitty attitude.

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TheMightyTywin t1_j12jror wrote

How long might it take to be buried? Will they put them in any kind of cover?

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Izawwlgood t1_j13nlz8 wrote

Not sure, but for comparison, rovers on Mars often experience failstate conditions when dust covers their solar panels over the course of a few months to a year or so. There have been instances of small twisters rolling past or over a rover and clearing off the panels.

So the deposition is probably not more than a few mm annually, if that, and maybe the material of the sample holders is dust repellant or something, but "being covered by dust" is most certainly something to consider.

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