Spirit is Now a Stationary Science Platform
CAPTION: Spirit's last tracks. This view from Spirit's navigation camera shows tracks left by the rover as it drove backward, dragging its inoperable right-front wheel, to the location where the rover became trapped in soft sand in April 2009.
Comments:
As I understand it, Mars Rover "Spirit" is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries which are recharged by solar cells. Spirit was originally designed for a mission lasting 90 <i>sols</i>, about 90 Earth days. So far, Spirit has been in operation for 6 Earth YEARS and is still working, though immobile. <br><br>I would really like to see NASA share their battery technology with Nokia, as I can't get my cell phone batteries to last even a year before pooping out. I want <i>Mars Batteries</i>!
The life of Lithium Ion batteries is directly related to the degree and manner in which it is charged and discharged. A batery that is fully charged and discharged will not last nearly as long as one which is charged to 80% of capacity and the discharged to maybe 40%. Pushing the batteries beyond these thresholds evidently wears them out. I figure there is a marketing equation figured into consumer Lithium Ion powered products. Perhaps the idea is for the chargeability to began suffering about the time the service and phone providers (pictured below) figure you'll want or "need" a new "device".
Funding Member
