STEM与日常科技·英语30篇（3）

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火星车与沙尘导致的电力衰减

NASA's Perseverance rover uses a radioisotope thermoelectric generator for steady power.
Solar-powered rovers like Spirit and Opportunity rely entirely on sunlight hitting their panels.
Martian dust storms can coat solar panels and reduce energy absorption by over 90%.
Even light dust accumulation cuts efficiency because Mars lacks rain to wash it off.
Engineers design panels with slight tilts and electrostatic coatings to repel some particles.
Dust devils sometimes clean panels naturally, causing unexpected power surges during missions.
Power loss forces rovers into low-energy 'sleep modes' until sunlight returns.
Scientists monitor panel output daily to predict operational windows for science activities.
This challenge shows why future Mars bases may need nuclear or wind-assisted power.
Understanding dust behavior helps plan better energy systems for extraterrestrial exploration.