PiBoy314 t1_iu2zxbk wrote on October 28, 2022 at 4:16 AM

Reply to comment by AzPatriotOriginal36 in NASA spacecraft records epic ‘marsquakes’ as it prepares to die by marketrent

It never moved, it isn’t a rover. It’s solar panels are stationary too.

AzPatriotOriginal36 t1_iugjg8m wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:42 AM

That seems silly to have a device to be in a hostile and unpredictable location and not put some type of preventative measures in place to keep its power sources protected. While I can understand that may not have been in the scope of the project, it is usually, in my opinion, a topic that transcends scope perimeters (if that is how you spell that lol) when it comes to project safety and life continuance of said projects.

PiBoy314 t1_iugkezo wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:52 AM

I’m sure the cost-benefit analysis was done. Wind has helped clear dust off the panels on Insight and other landers, but didn’t enough in this case. The environment is unpredictable and the mass and complexity they can carry is limited. Something to tilt, brush, repel, or otherwise remove dust could have failed and ended the mission early. Or it could have succeeded and we would have had fewer instruments for longer.