"Developing a Solar Panel Cleaning Device for Mars Rovers"

1 min read
Source: Astronomy Magazine
"Developing a Solar Panel Cleaning Device for Mars Rovers"
Photo: Astronomy Magazine
TL;DR Summary

NASA could design a mechanism to clean the solar panels on Mars rovers, but it would require sacrificing space or weight meant for scientific instruments due to constraints on deep-space missions. Engineers must work within a "resource box" defined by factors like mass, dimensions, power, schedule, data volume, and cost, making trade-offs between adding cleaning mechanisms and scientific capabilities. Despite the challenges, the focus remains on maximizing scientific output while staying within these constraints.

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