Curiosity Rover Solar Panels

The rover requires power to operate.

Curiosity rover solar panels.

On august 6 2012 the most recent rover landed on mars. One consequence is that the mars exploration rovers couldn t work for more that half of the time. This power source gives the mission an operating. Photo courtesy of nasa.

The rovers by name curiosity. But these plutonium units are a respected power source for spacecraft nasa s curiosity rover. Named curiosity it was the largest rover to be placed on the surface of mars. The 2 main drawbacks of solar panels is that they don t work during the night and they don t work during the martian winter.

The electrical output from the mmrtg charges two rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Of course the insight lander currently operating on the red planet bears solar panels. The curiosity rover is bigger needs more power. Curiosity carries a radioisotope power system that generates electricity from the heat of plutonium s radioactive decay.

Without power it cannot move use its science instruments or communicate with earth. Mars exploration rovers spirit and opportunity exploring the planet mars facts information videos and pictures.