Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 07/08/2012 15:58:36

Title: Will Curiosity have the Longevity of Voyager I?
Post by: thedoc on 07/08/2012 15:58:36

Will the Mars Curiosity Rover have the longevity of the Voyager I, which 34 years later, is still providing information?
Asked by Paul Hunter, via Facebook


                                        Visit the webpage for the podcast in which this question is answered. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/specials/show/20120806-1/)

[chapter podcast=4066 track=12.08.06/Naked_Scientists_Specials_12.08.06_10528.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd)  ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/12.08.06/Naked_Scientists_Specials_12.08.06_10528.mp3)

Title: Will Curiosity have the Longevity of Voyager I?
Post by: thedoc on 07/08/2012 15:58:36

We answered this question on the show...



David -   Well, we sure hope so.  I think I’ll be well-retired by then, but it is nuclear powered so we won't have the problem of solar panels getting covered with dust.  I guess really the only issue we’re going to have is that same nuclear power that keeps us going is also going to be firing off neutrons at us at a rapid rate.  And those neutrons can cause damage over time so, we’re kind of in a race to get as much information as we can and if we last 10 years, well we’ll still be sending information back.