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Development of a solar-cell dust opacity measurement instrument for Mars PathfinderThe atmosphere of Mars has a considerable load of suspended dust. Over time, this dust is deposited out of the atmosphere. The mechanism and the temporal and geographical variation of this deposition are not well characterized. Measurements of settling rates and dust properties are of considerable scientific interest. Atmospheric dust affects the atmospheric solar absorption and thus the heat balance of Mars, as well as serving as nucleation sites for water and CO2 frost. Knowledge of dust properties is of critical interest to design and prediction of the lifetime and power output of solar arrays, and also to design of mechanical mechanisms and radiators. An instrument has been designed and fabricated to measure the dust accumulation during the course of the Mars Pathfinder rover mission. The solar-cell coverglass transmission experiment will measure the change in optical opacity of a transparent coverglass as dust settles on the surface, and a quartz crystal monitor will measure the mass deposited.
Document ID
19960045603
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Landis, Geoffrey
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH United States)
Jenkins, Phillip P.
(NYMA, Inc. Brook Park, OH United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology 1995
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Accession Number
96N32506
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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