What are the chances of Spirit rover encountering a dust devil and what would be the result of that?
Thanks for your excellent question! We hope the chances are very good for both Spirit and Opportunity encountering a dust devil during the landed mission. In fact, we allow some time during the occasional Martian day (“Sol”) to look for dust devils. Mars Pathfinder did see evidence of a dust devil during its three-month mission. The result of encountering a dust devil for Spirit or Opportunity would be two-fold. First off, it would be a scientific boon, helping us to understand these transient weather phenomena in the entirely different environment of the Martian atmosphere. Second, and I think this is the genesis of your question, nothing bad would happen to the rovers at all, even if a dust devil crossed right over the rover! Though Mars has enormous dust devils by Earthly standards, the Mars atmosphere is very thin and tenuous. This means the force of the Martian wind during a dust devil passage is very low, indeed. Thanks again for a wonderful question! Todd J. Barber MER Propulsio
