Why did NASA keep Opportunitie’s batteries on while Mars underwent a global dust storm? Why not wait for the dust to settle first?
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answers:
I don't think so say: The batteries are used to run heaters that keep the rover's battery and electronics warm. They can't survive the cold of a martian night. And they didn't. When the batteries died, the rover froze and damaged the batteries.
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Ronald 7 say: The Martian dust storms last for an undetermined length of time
Sometimes years and Global
It is a Geological fact of Mars, just like the fall and rise of temperatures
Opportunity was first proposed to last 3 years, not 14
Its twin Rover Spirt fell foul to a wonky wheel
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Raymond say: Battery off = nothing works = cannot restart.
Dust blockage did happen in the past; luck was such that it was cleared by wind in time for the battery to be able to reload before being totally dead. Apparently, no such luck this time.
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Iridflare say: Opportunity was put into a low power mode in early June last year when it reported the light levels were low. The wake-up clock has to be kept running though, so there's a constant drain on the batteries, and if it gets to the point that the clock stops then it's hard to recover.
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ANDRE L say: Because without power for the heating system, the rover would freeze and the battery would go bad, and not be usable anymore.
You do Mars has temperatures of below -100F, right ?
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Adullah M say: They wanted to see the actual dust storm on Mars consist of.
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say: Your parents must be so proud of you.
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Starrysky say: Keeping electronics from freezing means the batteries must be used.
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CarolOklaNola say: Believe it ir not, the dust storms BLOCK the radio saves from teaching the opportunity. There is NO mechanical on/off switch. That would add mass and that would require more fuel, which also has mass.
Yes, I might be wrong.
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Taylor say: If it was cause by a fart
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I don't think so say: The batteries are used to run heaters that keep the rover's battery and electronics warm. They can't survive the cold of a martian night. And they didn't. When the batteries died, the rover froze and damaged the batteries.
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Acetek say: if you turn of Opportunity then there is no starting it back up
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