Tires on the ground ...

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17 years 9 months ago #19116 by Stoat
Replied by Stoat on topic Reply from Robert Turner
From the last few posts it looks like we need those two types of balloons. So i was thinking, could we inflate a giant balloon in orbit, and cover its surface with circles of varying thickness conductive strips. In effect making a giant "squarial." Something that looks like a parabola to microwaves but isn't [8D][:)]

What's the smallest clock we can put on these rovers? If we could get pairs of them to ping up to the orbiter a "test card", at the same frequency, then perhaps we could use the interference to tell us where they are.

(Edited) Latest ball rover with "denim" strip in but just floating 60 mm wide.

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17 years 9 months ago #18633 by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
Interesting. (The relative size of the parts. Seeing it is definitely different than imagining it. Thanks.) This thing looks like it could actually be driven off a cliff and survive, as long as we come up with a way to protect the ends of the axel.

There is room inside for a nav-comm antenna. Or, does anyone have information about long range communication with solid state lasers?

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The solar panel looks too narrow. I believe the spec sheet said it is 35 cm (350 mm) wide. About 1/3 of the tire diameter.

LB

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17 years 9 months ago #18634 by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
Code:
Sightseeing Rover Estimates - v1 Expenses ======== Rover $250 Aux stuff (per rover) $750 -------------------------------------------- 1000 rovers $1,000,000 Rover mass 1 kg Aux mass (per rover) 4 kg -------------------------------------------- 1000 rovers 5000 kg transport 5000 kg to Mars $200,000,000 Nav-Comm satellite (ea) $10,000,000 Aux stuff (per satellite) $2,000,000 -------------------------------------------- 3 satellites $36,000,000 Satellite mass 1000 kg Aux stuff mass (per satellite) 1000 kg -------------------------------------------- 3 satellites 2000 kg transport 6000 kg to Mars $240,000,000 ========================================================== total $477,000,000 Income (individuals, groups, sponsors, etc.) ====== Rover rent (per day) $100 1000 rovers $100,000 ------------------------------------------- Time to breakeven 4770 days 13.0 years Rover rent (per day) $500 1000 rovers $500,000 ------------------------------------------- Time to breakeven 954 days 2.6 years

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17 years 9 months ago #19386 by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
First things first - check my math, I'm not immume to mistakes.

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17 years 9 months ago #18666 by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
Two and a half years is not a horrible time to breakeven. (Some) potential investors will pay attention.

Planet-wide there are lots of people that can afford $500 a day for entertainment. The question is, can we find 1000 of them that will spend it on THIS PARTICULAR FORM of entertainment? The added possibility of making an important discovery should improve the odds of the answer being yes.

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If anyone were to actually "strike gold" (make an important discovery), renting these things would become very easy. The first Martian Gold Rush.

LB

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17 years 9 months ago #18635 by Larry Burford
Replied by Larry Burford on topic Reply from Larry Burford
Doubling the number of rovers would:

* Increase total expenses by about 35%
* Increase income by about 100%

Assuming that we could in fact rent them all.

A second batch of rovers could be sent right away, or at a later date. The latter seems prudent.

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