[FPSPACE] One positive side to the dust storm on Mars for the rovers

[LARRY KLAES]

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/070808_tw_rovers_update.html

To quote:

...the martian environment is actually pretty merciful during a major dust 
storm."

It turns out -- given all that dust flittering about in Mars' atmosphere -- 
the temperatures don't get nearly as cold at night. And that means that 
nighttime survival for a rover becomes much easier than it is when the skies 
are clear, Squyres advised. "So I think there's a good chance we're going to 
ride this out," he predicted.

Indeed, late last week, the news from Opportunity was good. Downlink data 
from the robot showed that the vehicle was in excellent health.

"The batteries are fully topped off, and the minimum nighttime temperatures 
have
still been within the acceptable range," Squyres reported. "In fact, we may 
decide soon to use some of that battery energy to conduct some science 
activities. This has a double benefit: It provides us with improved insight 
into what the weather is doing, and by running the computer inside the rover 
it also warms the vehicle."