by JohnD » Sat Dec 30, 2017 11:07 am
Voyager's "trajectory correction maneuver" thrusters worked well, after 37 years without a puff. But they run on hypergolic fuel, hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidiser, that stay stable in store and autoignite when mixed.
In contrast, the Lunar Rover ran on two silver-zinc potassium hydroxide batteries with a capacity of 121 amp-hr. This is the same technology as a watch battery, with the same advantages of long life in use and store, and slow self discharge rate. Apoolo 17 drive theirs nearly 36kms, much less than the 97km design range, so much cahrge would have been left, but they cannot be recharged and after 45 years, I think that new batteries would be needed! No doubt the motors would still run. Would the nylon seat webbing have deteriorated in intense sunlight and radiation?
JOhn
Voyager's "trajectory correction maneuver" thrusters worked well, after 37 years without a puff. But they run on hypergolic fuel, hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidiser, that stay stable in store and autoignite when mixed.
In contrast, the Lunar Rover ran on two silver-zinc potassium hydroxide batteries with a capacity of 121 amp-hr. This is the same technology as a watch battery, with the same advantages of long life in use and store, and slow self discharge rate. Apoolo 17 drive theirs nearly 36kms, much less than the 97km design range, so much cahrge would have been left, but they cannot be recharged and after 45 years, I think that new batteries would be needed! No doubt the motors would still run. Would the nylon seat webbing have deteriorated in intense sunlight and radiation?
JOhn