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Post by stewartw on Aug 28, 2013 8:46:03 GMT
Anyone fancy a field trip to Mars next October:
/photo/1
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Post by BillW on Aug 28, 2013 11:04:36 GMT
Hi, There were some remarkable graphics shown at the IMC about the impending meteor storm at Mars. What was really interesting was the fact that due to the thin atmosphere much smaller meteroids may very well get to the surface. I wonder if the rover will get that last fantastic fireball shot before it is sand blasted into oblivion....
Bill.
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Post by stewartw on Aug 28, 2013 12:43:05 GMT
Hmmm - wonder what the altitude of the meteor layer is on Mars and if / how it varies with the seasons.
Hopefully (in fact I'm sure) the rover will survive - it's the assets in orbit around Mars I'd be more worried about as they are the essential communication link between earth and the rovers. Was there any discussion about mitigation steps (solar panel alignment, modifying the orbit so that the radiant was "below the horizon" from the parspective of spacecarft at the predicted time of the shower maximum)?
If you recall, NASA used to avoid having the shuttle in orbit durng the maximum of the Leonids in order to minise damage to the orbiter (though Leonids do pack a punch at circa 72 km/s).
Hopefully if there are survivors on the ground, the rovers are close enough to be able to go and have a look.
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Post by BillW on Aug 28, 2013 14:31:41 GMT
The various speakers had the line that "options were being considered". All depends on the exact period of most activity. Rovers might not be on the shower facing side. Orbits might be altered etc. Indeed, a 0.1g doing that speed has over 250000 joules, a big bullet is maybe of 1/20 of this. You really wouldn't want to put you head in the way!
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Post by stewartw on Aug 28, 2013 15:16:52 GMT
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