Mars Rover Dust Storm Update

Conditions at Opportunity, which was facing a very dangerous part of the storm, is starting to see conditions better very slightly. Meanwhile, Spirit, which was seeing a calmer side of the storm, is now beginning to see the storm's violent side.

Power consumption is a major problem, because if the dust storm blocks out too much light, the rovers will die trying to absorb sunlight. A new problem faced by both rovers is the freshly settled dust on both rovers which blocks a lot of sunlight from reaching the solar panels. NASA has commanded Opportunity to communicate with Earth once every three days, while Spirit is communicating daily. Activity on Opportunity and Spirit has been almost completely suspended.

NASA is still hoping the best for their fighting rovers, which are continuing to survive through conditions which they were never meant to operate in.

Pictured: Opportunity's view, as the horizon becomes more opaque every day. Image Credit: NASA

Original Article: NASA

Mars Rovers Dust Storm Upadate

Last week, NASA said that both of their rovers were in the midst of a dangerous sand storm and there was a chance that the rovers would become disabled. Today NASA updated the situation, by revealing that because they canceled communication sessions with Opportunity, (which is facing the brute of the storm) the amount of power (input and and usage) is better.

Image Credit: NASA

Spirit, on the other side of the planet, has reported that the weather has bettered there. Opportunity, which is in a low-power mode is currently instructed to communicate with NASA only once every three days to conserve energy. Today NASA received a signal from Opportunity confirming it is still active, and the next communication date is Thursday, but NASA might try to communicate with it tomorrow.

NASA is saying that there is only one factor that will decide if both rovers continue to service, or become nonfunctional. They are saying if the weather worsens, then there will be larger difficulties in the future, but if the weather says the same as it is now or eases , then the rovers will be okay.

Original Article: JPL News Release

Mars Rovers Face Destructive Dust Storm

For about a month now, the Martian Rovers Spirit and Opportunity have been facing a series of dangerous dust storms. Opportunity, the rover in greater danger, is only receiving 1 percent of incoming sunlight because of the storm. Communications, observations and driving have been suspended for Opportunity in order to conserve power.

The storm over Opportunity has blocked out 99 percent of the sunlight, leaving the rover to draw on its battery for energy. NASA is hoping for the best outcome, but admit that the rovers were not designed to survive this kind of harsh environment. The two rovers were only supposed to last 90 days, but have been active for three and a half years; so NASA remains optimistic about its fighting rovers.

The above image shows images taken over a 30-sol day period by Opportunity. Visibility is currently very poor, and the heavy accumulation of dust is evident on the surface in the image. Image Credit: NASA

Before the dust storms, Opportunity's solar panels produced 700 watt hours of electricity a day, but after passing 148 watt hours (the lowest for either rover during their stay on Mars), Opportunity is down to 128 watt hours. Although Opportunity is facing the brute of the storm, NASA has reduced activity on Spirit which is also facing the storm in a less severe position.

NASA wants to conserve Opportunity's energy usage, so for the first time, it has cancelled communication session for two days (yesterday and today) in order to save whatever electricity it can.

This storm might last for days or even weeks, and one or both of the rovers might become damaged or unable to operate. And the settled dust on the rovers' solar panels might also prove to be a problem. NASA engineers will analyze the rovers when the storm settles to determine the condition of each rover.

Times are harsh for the two rovers, but the rovers have proved they can accomplish much more than expected of them, and NASA hopes the two rovers will do the same though this storm.

Original Article: JPL News Release