NASA officially declared finished InSight mission which had landed on the surface of Mars more than four years ago, after communication with the lander was lost over the decrease in energy that caused the accumulation of dust on their solar panels.
The US space agency noted that public opinion often wondered about that no way had been found to clean up the dust, to which it replied that a system intended for that “would have added cost, mass and complexity” to the lander.
However, he explained that the installation of “solar panels big enough to power” electrically powering the geophysical robot was “the easiest and most cost-effective way to accomplish” the tasks for longer than planned, since its “goal” was to study Mars for one Martian year (about two Earth years).
I’m getting close to the end here, due to dust gathering on my solar panels, making it hard to generate power. People often ask: don’t I have a way to dust myself off (wiper, blower, etc.)? It’s a fair question, and the short answer is this: (��) pic.twitter.com/fbFjj4AXf3
— NASA InSight (@NASAInSight)
November 10, 2022
How to remove martian dust
During the design of the ExoMars mission, Williams indicated that a group of engineers proposed technological solutions related to the removal of Martian dust, such as brushes, windshield wipers and gas blowers. However, the proposal will be evaluated before its launch, which is planned for 2028.
“With the rebirth of ExoMars now, we are considering the possibility of restoring some of that capacity“, Williams pointed out, mentioning that they could “use the tilt of the solar panels to dislodge some dust.” He also specified that this proposal “would help to orient the panels towards the Sun more efficiently, which may also have some benefits “.
On the other hand, he stressed that both Airbus and NASA specialists should take into account that the Landers being sent to Mars can be affected by dust and reduce its useful life. “That’s how space missions are, unfortunately,” she concluded.
In May 2018, the Insight mission was launched using an Atlas V rocket, with the purpose of studying the early geological evolution of Mars. Six months later, it landed on the Martian surface. Since then, its photovoltaic panels were covered in dust, which caused a gradual drop in their energy levels. In May, InSight lost 90% of its energy production due to Martian dust, according to a publication RT.