is_explode t1_ivwsyy1 wrote on November 11, 2022 at 4:38 AM

Reply to comment by FiNsKaPiNnAr in Saying goodbye to NASA's InSight lander before it's buried in Martian dust by Impossible_Cookie596

The martian atmosphere has a very low density, so you can't just use a normal compressor. And any compressor you bring is extra mass and volume you can't use for science. And you have to think about how a compressor running would impact sensitive instruments.

Palmput t1_ivxd52h wrote on November 11, 2022 at 8:48 AM

I can’t wait for operational Starship to put an end to planetary science mass insanity. Even if manned missions are still far away, they can finally just send a rugged machine with off the shelf parts.

is_explode t1_ivya65m wrote on November 11, 2022 at 2:47 PM

Assuming the cost estimates are actually close, that will definitely help. Although in some places (see high rad environment near Europa) you still wouldn't want COTS hardware. And some things like RTGs are probably never going to be available COTS.

imafraidofmuricans t1_ivyh1k6 wrote on November 11, 2022 at 3:35 PM

No they can't.

The instruments aren't delicate for the fun of it. Sensitivity means fragility. Even sensitive instruments on earth are fragile.

Going to grab an RTG at home depo, for that matter? It seems you dont quite understand that Mars is not earth. The atmosphere is thin as hell and there is more dust than even in your bedroom. Off they shelf parts would get shredded by dust alone. I remind you that curiosity weights 1 ton and is the size of a car. The issue is not payload weight, it's how absurdly hostile Mars is. It's not beach sand.

"Planetary science mass insanity". I'm going to be blunt: you are an idiot. Not because you know less than the people doing this work. But because you fail to realize you know nothing, and choose to call it "mass insanity".

Palmput t1_ivz5157 wrote on November 11, 2022 at 6:15 PM

You’ve got to chill the hell out. Besides, we’re talking about Mars. They’ve already sent commercial parts. The problem is that they couldn’t afford to use more durable structural pieces. Yes, like Curiosity as you said. The wheels were shredded because they were extremely thin. If they had the mass budget for solid steel wheels, more powerful motors, and a larger power source to compensate, that’s that problem dealt with. Engineers are more clever than you seem to think.