JDPFu.com 2025

As we venture off Earth, power generation becomes more and more important. We hear about solar and nuclear power generation in spacecraft.

The solar panels on some Mars experiments were partially covered by dust which prevented the batteries from charging. Dead batteries means no data transmitted, no roving, no science from the experimental package.

Adding a small wind generator to many rover power systems or as a charging station on a planet known for wind would be a good idea. The further away a planet is from the Sun, the more the planet tends towards strong winds. Neptune has the strongest winds of any planet in the solar system, measured above 1,200 mph and predicted above 2,000 mph.

Anyway, I haven’t see much related to wind power for electrical generation mentioned in any Mars colonization plans. Hum. Perhaps that would be a solution for power generation on Mars? Of course, the numbers would need to be carefully determined since a wind generator can be really dangerous if it isn’t built to handle high winds and sand. Also, don’t forget that the Mars atmosphere is 1/10th the density of Earth’s, but the average wind speed over a 3.5 yr period was about 11mph as measured by Viking.

Where I live, the average wind speed is 3 mph and wind power generation isn’t considered cost effective.