Raging dust storm halts Mars rover's progress

A huge dust storm has broken out on Mars, cutting solar power to NASA's Opportunity rover and preventing it from starting its planned descent into Victoria crater. The current dust storm is the most severe ever to effect Spirit and Opportunity. Dust storms reduce the amount of power available to the rovers. John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, U.S. said, "If the dust levels were to increase further and stay elevated for several days, there is a risk to how well Opportunity could continue to work in this darkened environment." The rover team has now been forced to hold off the descent until further examination of this storm is studied. On a positive note, the wind has removed some of the dust that was stuck to the solar panels of the rovers, which prevented them from generating the maximum power.