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A comment on ‘My power’s low’: NASA’s Insight Mars lander prepares to sign off. Parent comment

Re:‘My power’s low’: NASA’s Insight Mars lander prepares to ... by billfor on Wednesday December 21, 2022 @02:28PM (#34085249)
This makes wonder about solar roofs and efficiency over time. For example I don't see anything immediately obvious about how a Tesla Solar Roof might degrade over time due to dust and debris, but it stands to reason that it should. It seems like it should be easier to find this type of information on solar panels given the emphasis.
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Re:‘My power’s low’: NASA’s Insight Mars lander prepares to ... by rob74 on Wednesday December 21, 2022 @03:59PM (#34086311)
Well, your solar roof won't be on Mars. Here on Earth, you have rain from time to time in most places. And even in the middle of a desert, you can simply wipe the panels clean once the dust storm has passed...
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Re:‘My power’s low’: NASA’s Insight Mars lander prepares to ... by SoftTalker on Wednesday December 21, 2022 @04:18PM (#34086536)
Yeah, I'm not walking around on a pitched glass-surfaced roof that may be slimy with mold. Ever seen what a window eventually looks like in a humid climate if it hasn't been cleaned? Rain can wash off some surface dust but it doesn't really clean beyond that. Maybe this isn't as much of a problem in a desert.
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