Ingenuity resting and charging its batteries.
Posted on 08/17/2021 5:25:44 PM PDT by Ezekiel
Little Ginny has a full dozen flights under its belt!
NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity made its 12th Red Planet flight on Monday (Aug. 16), during which the little chopper served as eyes in the sky for its larger companion, the Perseverance rover.
The flight was designed to serve as reconnaissance for the rover's continuing explorations of a region dubbed South Séítah, according to a flight plan NASA posted before the attempt that called the sortie "ambitious."
"Flying over Séítah South carries substantial risk because of the varied terrain," Ingenuity scientists wrote in the plan. "When we choose to accept the risks associated with such a flight, it is because of the correspondingly high rewards. Knowing that we have the opportunity to help the Perseverance team with science planning by providing unique aerial footage is all the motivation needed."
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Other than man’s first moon landing .. This is the greatest thing we have ever accomplished!
Think about it: A helicopter flying on an alien planet!
WE have become the aliens! 🤣
This amazing news just keeps running along under the radar.
It’s no small accomplishment.
I’m in awe that the lil’ copter had to ride in Percy’s belly, and then the rover had to give birth on Mars. Bizarre stuff.
How much could have gone wrong but didn’t?
I crashed my model helicopters many times but didn’t have the service of six-axis stability control and auto pilot.
Still blows my mind we can fly an aircraft in an atmosphere that is almost a vacuum. .095 PSI vs 14 PSI at sea level on Earth. At the top of Everest, it’s 4.8 PSI.
Fly like an eagle, beautiful Ginny.
That whole entering and landing was REALLY something!
Talk about things that could go wrong!!
Ingenuity resting and charging its batteries.
I wonder how long it takes to charge it’s batteries after a flight?
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