The_Flying_Alf t1_j6mqxvd wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Reply to comment by lithuanianD in Perseverance Mars rover drops 10th sample, completing depot by IslandChillin

Hopefully they also have some kind of transponder in case they are blown by the wind.

GoForPapaPalpy t1_j6mruzo wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:09 PM

The Martian Atmosphere is incredibly sparse / low pressure. Even the fastest wind on Mars wouldn’t be able to move much besides dust. There’s just not enough molecules of atmosphere to enact significant force into anything of substance.

This is part of the reason why the Ingenuity drone’s blades have such a high revolution rate.

The_Flying_Alf t1_j6mt2z9 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:19 PM

Cool, I just assumed since there are dust storms it might have some more strength

GoForPapaPalpy t1_j6mtx4l wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:27 PM

No worries! As did I at some point in my life. So if you watch “The Martian” with Matt Damon - great movie, awesome book - the whole concept of the dust storm pushing the escape vehicle over and blowing a radar dish into Mark Watney is complete BS. Andy Weir tried to keep most things true to the science / believable, but I think I’ve read somewhere that he regretted that whole part because it is just not what Martian Wind is capable of doing.

mrflippant t1_j6oo1tq wrote on January 31, 2023 at 8:33 PM

Since the atmospheric pressure on Mars' surface is about 0.6% of the atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth, standing in a Martian dust storm probably feels a lot like having little styrofoam pellets blown around you by a very mild breeze.