XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: nomail@example.com   
      
   jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com  wrote:   
   > In sci.physics Rob  wrote:   
   >> Serigo  wrote:   
   >>> there is no reason for man to go to Mars.  It is rocks and sand in a   
   >>> vaccum. no food, no water, no air.   
   >>>   
   >>> send a robot.   
   >>   
   >> Indeed.  However, I always wonder why they don't equip those robots   
   >> with brushes to wipe the solar panels and camera's.  That would not   
   >> be a problem when men go along, but it would be an expensive way to   
   >> achieve the same thing.  (wiping the thing clean after a duststorm)   
   >   
   > Because the equipment to do it would have been big and heavy.   
   >   
   > Also absent water to wash off the dust, there would be the very real   
   > danger of cumulative scratching due to abrasion being much worse than   
   > the dust.   
      
   As I understand it, at least for the Spirit/Opportunity rovers the   
   predicted operational time was limited by dust accumulation on the   
   solar panels, and indeed power output of the panels was decreasing   
   all the time.  Then they got lucky and there was a breeze of wind,   
   and it cleared the panels starting operations as if it had just landed.   
      
   Apparently, for extended operation you need either luck or some   
   dedicated method to clear panels and camera lenses, just as it is   
   here on earth.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)