A Mercury lander mission would create opportunities to sample unique geological features. However, extreme temperature fluctuations on Mercury’s surface pose challenges for exploration on the planetary surface. In a narrow region near the terminator, temperate conditions would allow a rover to run on solar power and collect data and surface samples without needing to withstand the extreme heat.
  • wheezy@lemmy.mlEnglish
    7·
    2 months ago

    The “Terminator” is the line in which the day and night transition. I never heard this term so the title didn’t make sense to me.

    Basically keep the rover in a spot that is in the transition of extreme hot to extreme cold.

    Article says it’s about 3.5 mph the rover would have to maintain. So, not super fast but that would be without stopping obviously. So 7 mph if it wanted to have a 50% downtime to stop and smell the sodium.

      • wheezy@lemmy.mlEnglish
        3·
        2 months ago

        I think it’s written badly on purpose to get people to click to find out what it actually means. An interesting article though so I’ll forgive it.