this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2025
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Mars (Planet)
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why not wind on bodies with atmosphere?
wind is really weak on mars. this has to do with mars' really thin atmosphere of around 6 mbar (0.006 times the thickness on Earth). If wind moves on mars with the same velocity that a hurricane moves on earth, it's barely strong enough to lift a sheet of paper! (source: i read that a while ago).
the reason why mars can have dust storms is only because the dust particles are extremely small and light-weight. but certainly the winds are never strong enough to actually move a heavy rotary blade of a wind turbine.
The biggest plot hole* in The Martian. Though Andy Weir acknowledges this and it made for a dramatic scene.
*other plot hole: Mars regolith is extremely toxic and using it to grow potatoes (the poop was added to it) would kill the eater.