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AzPatriotOriginal36 t1_iu2zdpu wrote

Does it not move anymore? Couldn't they just ask it to turn its plates sideways or to tilt sideways and hope the sand falls off, even slightly to get more sunlight to power it back up, even if it takes a while to do, it would continue the mission if it worked or when another mars wind blows through

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PiBoy314 t1_iu2zxbk wrote

It never moved, it isn’t a rover. It’s solar panels are stationary too.

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AzPatriotOriginal36 t1_iugjg8m wrote

That seems silly to have a device to be in a hostile and unpredictable location and not put some type of preventative measures in place to keep its power sources protected. While I can understand that may not have been in the scope of the project, it is usually, in my opinion, a topic that transcends scope perimeters (if that is how you spell that lol) when it comes to project safety and life continuance of said projects.

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PiBoy314 t1_iugkezo wrote

I’m sure the cost-benefit analysis was done. Wind has helped clear dust off the panels on Insight and other landers, but didn’t enough in this case. The environment is unpredictable and the mass and complexity they can carry is limited. Something to tilt, brush, repel, or otherwise remove dust could have failed and ended the mission early. Or it could have succeeded and we would have had fewer instruments for longer.

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HiveMynd148 t1_iu4dpo9 wrote

Martian Sand is so fine in size it gets practically Stuck to the panels from Static Electricity.

It's basically Laser printer Ink afaik.

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Gopher--Chucks t1_iu4h6os wrote

Just wait til Big Printer gets their hands on that fine Martian soil.

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UpsetRabbinator t1_iu4jx6c wrote

If NASA hasn't found a solution I doubt randos on reddit got any better idea.

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BuffNerd5 t1_iu4lmki wrote

how bout windshield wipers

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jowen1968 t1_iu4mw2o wrote

If it's fine enough to be effectively glued by static to the panels the only thing wipers will do is scratch the panels into complete uselessness due to turning the wiper blades I to fine grit sand paper.

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BookMobil3 t1_iu5mwml wrote

How many years will they need to study Mars fault lines before picking their spots to terra form? Sounds like we’re stuck here for at least another century or two if we live that long

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DiegesisThesis t1_iu5lhpt wrote

Nah, you know those clear films offroaders put on their helmet visors so they remove the top layer when it gets dirty? Just do that.

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