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Old December 11th, 2019 #1
Nikola Bijeliti
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Default A Steampunk Rover for Venus

A Clockwork Rover for Venus
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Mechanical computers have been used throughout history, most often as mathematical tools like adding machines. The most famous might be Charles Babbage's Difference Engine, a 19th century invention for calculating algebraic equations. The oldest known is the Antikythera mechanism, a device used by ancient Greeks to predict astronomical phenomena like eclipses.

Mechanical computers were also developed as works of art. For hundreds of years, clockwork mechanisms were used to create automatons for wealthy patrons. In the 1770s, a Swiss watchmaker named Pierre Jaquet-Droz created "The Writer," an automaton that could be programmed to write any combination of letters.

Sauder said these analog technologies could help where electronics typically fail. In extreme environments like the surface of Venus, most electronics will melt in high temperatures or be corroded by sulfuric acid in the atmosphere.

"Venus is too inhospitable for kind of complex control systems you have on a Mars rover," Sauder said. "But with a fully mechanical rover, you might be able to survive as long as a year."

Wind turbines in the center of the rover would power these computers, allowing it to flip upside down and keep running. But the planet's environment would offer plenty of challenges.
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Old December 12th, 2019 #2
Ray Allan
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I was reading about this rover on nasaspaceflight.com. Interesting concept, considering previous landers on Venus lasted a couple of hours at best.
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Old December 28th, 2019 #3
Ray Allan
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Currently the only Venus lander planned is Russia's Venera-D, which probably won't launch until 2026.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/venera_d.html
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