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Why did Curiosity choose to go with nuclear power? While solar panels have issues with Martian dust, this was a known factor before the 2004 Spirit and Opportunity mission. Why then did the 2004 rovers choose to use solar panels for power?

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  • $\begingroup$ I'd imagine it is because nuclear technology has advanced quite a bit in the 7-ish years between the missions. $\endgroup$
    – Undo
    Aug 15, 2013 at 16:51
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    $\begingroup$ I believe the dust was worse than expected. $\endgroup$
    – Erik
    Aug 15, 2013 at 18:06

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Two alternatives (RTG or solar) were investigated in the Mars Science Laboratory Environmental Impact Statement. In summary, solar arrays would limit the MSL to operate between 5°N and 20°N, and for one Martian Year only if at exactly 15°N, whereas RTGs would permit it to operate for at least one Martian year anywhere from 60°S to 60°N.

From page 2-1 (PDF page 35):

Proposed Action (Alternative 1, NASA’s Preferred Alternative) (...) The proposed MSL rover would utilize a radioisotope power system as its primary source of electrical power to operate and conduct science on the surface of Mars. (...)

Alternative 2 (...) The alternative MSL rover would utilize solar energy as its primary source of electrical power to operate and conduct science on the surface of Mars. (...)

Of particular interest is Table 2-5 on page 2-36 (PDF page 70):

MSL alternatives
MSL alternative capabilities as investigated by NASA.

Accompanying text below the table:

Alternative 1. The MMRTG-powered rover would be capable of achieving all of the target operational capabilities summarized in Table 2-1, including landing at a scientifically interesting location between 60° South and 60° North latitude, and operating and conducting science for at least one Mars year.

Alternative 2. At most latitudes on Mars the amount of time that a solar-powered rover could perform science operations would be limited by the ability of the solar array to generate sufficient power for the rover to survive the extreme thermal environment. At latitudes on Mars between 60° South and 5° North and between 20° North and 60° North a solar-powered rover either would not have sufficient power to operate at all, or would not be able to survive long enough to accomplish even the minimum science. A solar-powered rover could operate for at least one-half Mars year and achieve the minimum science capability only at latitudes ranging from slightly above 5° North to slightly below 20° North, and could operate for a full Mars year and accomplish the full science objectives only at 15° North latitude.

For more details, including a detailed description of both (and other) alternatives as well as a consideration of non-scientific factors, see the Mars Science Laboratory Environmental Impact Statement, Volume 1 and Volume 2. The non-scientific factors include environmental concerns, which speak for solar — considerably less risk in case of a catastrophic launch failure (see also this question on RTG alternatives).

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  • $\begingroup$ As always, it's a bit disappointing to not see a "fission reactor" option being considered. I suppose that's life... $\endgroup$
    – ikrase
    Apr 24, 2020 at 9:11
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While I've not yet found explicit back up to my recollection of this, the explanation I remember is that solar panels would not provide adequate power to operate the rover and the instruments on it and still fit within the mission profile. Curiosity/Mars Science Laboratory is much larger and more massive and has more instruments than the previous Mars rovers. Thus the power requirements are much higher. Current solar technology is not adequate to power the rover. Solar panels to provide adequate power likely would have increased the size and weight of the spacecraft so much that the mission would have become infeasible.

The following statement from the MSL mission profile does not quite explicitly support the above, but it somewhat addresses the matter:

The rover will carry a radioisotope power system that generates electricity from the heat of plutonium's radioactive decay. This power source gives the mission an operating lifespan on Mars' surface of a full martian year (687 Earth days) or more, while also providing significantly greater mobility and operational flexibility, enhanced science payload capability, and exploration of a much larger range of latitudes and altitudes than was possible on previous missions to Mars.

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    $\begingroup$ Thank you both. It then follows: why didn't Spirit prefer the same technology? Too bulky? @TildalWave $\endgroup$ Aug 15, 2013 at 17:56
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    $\begingroup$ @coleopterist: The use of RTG's is controversial, due to the fact that a radioactive substance is being launched into space - opponents are concerned about what might happen if a launch accident were to occur. Thus, NASA tends to avoid use of RTG's when possible. Additionally, there was a time when the proper materials were not available. $\endgroup$
    – GreenMatt
    Aug 16, 2013 at 13:50
  • $\begingroup$ @TildalWave: Thanks. It looks like gerrit was able to find a better reference than I had time to search for. I think I'll just let things stand as they are. If you want to put that into an answer of your own, feel free. $\endgroup$
    – GreenMatt
    Aug 16, 2013 at 13:52
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    $\begingroup$ @GreenMatt: Despite the fact that modern RTGs are designed to survive any imaginable launch failure (due to a launch failure of an early RTG-equipped spacecraft which spread plutonium over a wide area). $\endgroup$
    – Vikki
    Jul 10, 2019 at 22:29

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