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Related: About this forumNASA's Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the "worst dust storm we have ever seen" on Mars
RogueAltGov Retweeted:NASAs Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the worst dust storm we have ever seen on Mars; very good chance it does not survive. #SBAG
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NASA's Jonathan Rall: Opportunity is stuck in the "worst dust storm we have ever seen" on Mars (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Jun 2018
OP
exboyfil
(17,867 posts)1. Well done
Good and faithful servant. Opportunity has been a slam dunk success. It has cheated death before, maybe it can again.
Hats off to the scientists and engineers that made it possible.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)2. Could not say it better myself. +1000
I hope the little guy makes it!
longship
(40,416 posts)3. Representation of Opportunity.
A nice looking space craft. Broom! Broom!
Eko
(7,424 posts)4. Hang tight buddy!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,424 posts)5. Mars mega-storm threatens Nasa rover after 14-year mission
Officials said on Wednesday they were hopeful the rover would survive the storm, which already covers a quarter of Mars and is expected to encircle the planet in another few days. It could be weeks, or even months, until the sky clears enough for sunlight to reach the surface and recharge Opportunitys batteries through its solar panels.
...
The rovers batteries are likely so low that only a clock is still working, to wake the spacecraft for periodic power-level checks, according to officials. If the clock also goes offline, then the rover wont know what time it is when it comes back on and could send back signals at any time.
...
In 2007, a massive dust storm kept Opportunity silent for a few days. It jumped back into action after awakening from its deep self-protecting slumber.
...
This time, the rovers energy level is believed to be much lower. However, Martian summertime is approaching, which should keep temperatures up at night and prevent the batteries and other parts freezing. Besides electrical heaters, Opportunity is equipped with eight tiny plutonium-powered heaters.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/14/mars-storm-nasa-rover-opportunity
...
The rovers batteries are likely so low that only a clock is still working, to wake the spacecraft for periodic power-level checks, according to officials. If the clock also goes offline, then the rover wont know what time it is when it comes back on and could send back signals at any time.
...
In 2007, a massive dust storm kept Opportunity silent for a few days. It jumped back into action after awakening from its deep self-protecting slumber.
...
This time, the rovers energy level is believed to be much lower. However, Martian summertime is approaching, which should keep temperatures up at night and prevent the batteries and other parts freezing. Besides electrical heaters, Opportunity is equipped with eight tiny plutonium-powered heaters.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/14/mars-storm-nasa-rover-opportunity