The coin cleared by the Martian wind supports hope for the revival of the rover

The coin cleared by the Martian wind supports hope for the revival of the rover

This is a photo dated September 4, 2018 with a 1909 Lincoln penny covered in dust.

In 2018, the global dust storm on Mars brought a lot of problems as it covered NASA's rovers with a layer of red mud. However, the new set of photos from the Curiosity spacecraft demonstrates how the current wind season cleans the surface of the rover.

In the first image of September 4, you can see the coin that was used to calibrate the Curiosity camera and test its functionality. The coin is covered with dust, serving as a reminder of a strong storm that knocked down NASA's rover in June.

The coin cleared by the Martian wind supports hope for the revival of the rover

The same penny, but after exposure to the Martian wind

The second photo from December 2 shows a clean coin. It seems a trifle, but many scientists are optimistic about this photo. The fact is that the Opportunity Rover is still not responding to signals, as its batteries are dusty and not charging. It is hoped that the season of the winds will sweep away the dirt and allow access to sunlight.

Now the Curiosity rover is studying a group of red rocks. The team is looking for a suitable place to drill in order to better study the geology.

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