why didn't nasa build the mars rover with windshield wipers on its solar panels?
it's not as if they didn't know mars gets huge dust-storms. you would think they would have provided a means for the rover to clean itself.
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answers:
Mike G say: You should definitely write to NASA and tell them.
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Ronald 7 say: Exactly
Maybe the next time
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I don't think so say: The main reason was time. Spirit and Opportunity were designed and built incredibly fast, in just a little more than one year. Whatever wasn't essential for the 90 day mission was left off. If they had been late, they would have missed their launch window, and would have had to wait another 2 years for the next one.
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Joseph say: NASA designed the Spirit and Opportunity rovers to last 90 Sols, (1 Martian day is called Sol, 24 hours and 45 minutes long) so the dust accumulation on solar panels was not going to be an issue. Any science data that Spirit and Opportunity gathered beyond Sol 91 was a bonus.
A Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator powers the Curiosity rover currently working on Mars, making it impervious to the dust contamination on solar panels.
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MARK say: There is no reason why they would do this. It would have increased its production cost. It would have increased its mass for transport. The wipers would have used up energy supplies. NASA had no idea that Opportunity would last as long as it did. There really is no foundation for criticism.
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busterwasmycat say: Mostly because they did not expect the darn thing to work long enough that wipers would be needed. You don't bring your winter parka with you to the cottage int he summer, do you?
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Adullah M say: Or hoping that the Martians would come to clean it for Nasa and see what is inside the rover.
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CarolOklaNola say: Because the windshield wipers and the motor would hsve added MASS.
NASA DOES NOT BUILD the rovers or the rockets or the probes ir the components. NASA contracts that to other businesses and individuals.
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say: Another genius whose biggest accomplishment to date is finding the power on button on their computer.
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Acetek say: give it a rest. Opportunity did its job for 15 years. it was not even supposed to last that long
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