Re: [LEAPSECS] Martian Chronicles

From: Clive D.W. Feather <clive_at_DEMON.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:10:17 +0100

Peter Bunclark said:
> I quote this out of interest more than an argument, from
> http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html
>
> "The team has been watching Opportunity's power very carefully. It seems
> that Opportunity is losing some of the power boost it received during the
> last cleaning event. The solar array wake up time has been getting later
> each day and is currently 9:48 Mars Local Solar Time. The team has been
> planning accordingly, taking steps to preserve power where appropriate."
>
> I find it fascinating that the only bunch of humans currently operating on
> a planet other than Earth find it compelling to use local Solar Time.

For a solar power array problem, this is surprising?

UTC would say *nothing* about the problem; as it is, we can see that it's
currently taking the best part of 4 hours to do something and/or missing 4
hours of useful sunlight. [Assuming for the sake of discussion that sunrise
is 06:00.]

--
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Received on Wed Aug 10 2005 - 02:10:30 PDT

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