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Long Live the Lander

Posted December 27, 2008 8:32 AM

The Phoenix Mars Lander has fallen silent, victim of a dust storm and failing batteries. NASA engineers hoped it would function for a few more weeks but knew the end was near with the onset of winter and declining power generated by the solar panels. Operations have ceased and the lander will soon be encased in carbon dioxide ice. However, all is not yet lost: the $480 million Phoenix could theoretically reawaken in the Martian spring, and NASA will be listening for the pitter-patter of binary communications. Has the little lander that tried, died? What engineering fix would you recommend?

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Commentator

Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 82
Good Answers: 2
#1

Re: Long Live the Lander

12/29/2008 10:05 AM

Next time, consider:

1. Burrowing. Look at the subsurface temperatures and decide if it is useful to do so.

2. Expanding foam/bubble-wrap to self-insulate in an EM transparent cocoon.

3. Exothermic chemicals to provide heat.

4. Bacteria cultures with food to harvest heat/power.

5. Wind turbines/vibrating reeds to harvest heat/power.

6. Conductive balloon with gap in conductive tether to harvest electrostatic energy.

7. Tunable coils to harvest EM energy.

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Power-User

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles area, California, USA
Posts: 202
Good Answers: 9
#2

Re: Long Live the Lander

12/29/2008 1:45 PM

TIC

GET NASA TO OPEN A WEATHER PREDICTION DEPARTMENT...SENIOR LEVEL.

Predict long dry MARS spring......sure to rain and wash all he dust off.

Immediately ..,terminate department for failure

Viola, low budget answer.

MR. GUY

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Anonymous Poster
#3

Re: Long Live the Lander

01/08/2009 4:52 PM

Install a solar recharger circuit on the Landers solar array so that as soon as the sun's light starts hitting the sloar array it will begin recharging the Landers batteries. Maybe this technology is already on board.

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