Radio Silence Rover trapped in the dust storm

On May 10, NASA still has not heard of the rover caught in a mbadive dust storm on Mars that began on May 30, reports Space.com

more than one. week before the storm rose to cover the entire planet. Engineers think it's probably switched to low power mode to save energy.

The NASA Curiosity Rover captures an intensifying dust storm that has engulfed the red planet in apocalyptic scenes of a haze thickened caramel. Unlike Opportunity, Curiosity is powered by nuclear, so does not face the same threats of the storm. NASA

NASA engineers try to communicate with the rover every day, but they do not expect to hear before the storm begins to dissipate. If the mobile goes out of low power mode, it should contact the home operators. Operators listen to NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) – a giant radio antenna system on Earth and orbiting our planet – for any indication of activity.

"We listened, but no low-gain communications. Ray Arvidson, Senior Research Scientist on Opportunity and his long-time silent companion, Spirit, told Space Blog Inside Outer Space

Opportunity has been exploring the Red Planet since 2004. It survived dust storms for a long time. stay on Mars, but nothing quite like the current behemoth engulfing the planet

"At our last opportunity report on Saturday [June 30] this storm does not falter." Jim Rice, chief of the geology team and co-investigator of the Mars Exploration Rover project's science team, wrote in an article for spaceflightinsider.com.

See all best photos of the week in these slide shows

However, Rice warned that the reports on the death of the rover were "very premature". "It's a dark situation right now, without a doubt, and we still have a long chem to go through this last challenge on the red planet, "he wrote. "However, we have an impressive record of overcoming 14 1/2 years of challenges and our team is the best on both worlds."

Martian dust covers the rover Opportunity. MSSS / JPL-Caltech / NASA

The dust storms make it more difficult for the light to reach the solar panels. # 39; Opportunity. For a rover running in the sunlight, it can be deadly. It needs power to make sure it stays at a safe temperature on the extremely cold planet.

There is no way to tell how long Opportunity can survive in low power mode. "It depends on the level of charge in the batteries at the beginning of the dust storm, exactly how cold it is and for how long," said Paul Meacham, senior system engineer for the European project ExoMars Rover Newsweek . The age of the rover, he adds, can affect the function of his batteries, which continue to deteriorate.

Fortunately for Opportunity, key electronic components are protected by an insulated box, Rice reported. Dust can also help keep it warm at night.

Read more: Is there life on Mars? This rover wants to know

John Callas, NASA Mars Exploration Rover project manager, also thinks the rover can survive the cold. He has already told Newsweek : "Although the rover is not powered by lack of light, it should stay warm enough." Callas did not immediately respond to a request for an update.

NASA's nuclear-powered Curiosity rover, on the other hand, is working hard to explore the Red Planet's Perseverance Valley, reported the space agency. [ad_2]
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