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garry4321 t1_j10rv8r wrote

Serious question

Why dont they bring some sort of dust remover system like a small brush or something if the issue is panels getting covered with dust?

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Candid-Grape7189 t1_j119xv9 wrote

More expensive. More things to fail. Would also cause damage by scratching up the panels. That would significantly lower the amount of light it gets far sooner than dust collection. And people forget... Our landers/rovers and probes are friggin huge. Would need the equivalent of a push broom alongside all the mechanical stuff needed for that purpose alone.

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codewolf t1_j11gdpd wrote

I think if you could double (or significantly extend) the life of the rover, a solution would be cost beneficial.

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istubbedallmytoes t1_j11a07m wrote

It's not just dry thin dust. After 4 years, it becomes grimy and baked in. Picture a windshield in a snowy area. How the grime gets too thick for dry wiping and you have to use wiper fluid.

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codewolf t1_j10yiy0 wrote

I was wondering the same thing - but thinking something along the lines of an air blower.

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garry4321 t1_j11adql wrote

Yes exactly! My only thought about the blower is that it would only work on planets where the atmosphere is dense enough.

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