Posted on 04/07/2021 12:11:39 PM PDT by Red Badger
NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity is seen on the planet's surface on Monday, the 45th Martian day of the Perseverance rover mission. Photo courtesy of NASA
ORLANDO, Fla., April 7 (UPI) -- NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, the first powered aircraft on another planet, is free of the Perseverance rover that carried it and appears to be functioning well ahead of its first flight on Sunday, the space agency said.
NASA plans to broadcast the results of that first flight at 3:30 a.m. EDT Monday after the helicopter transmits data and images to Perseverance, which will send them back to Earth.
The helicopter detached from the rover's underbelly Saturday and survived subzero temperatures with its own heaters, which NASA said Tuesday was "a major milestone."
The 4-pound rover uses solar panels to charge its batteries and keep delicate electronics safe from extreme cold that can reach 130 degrees F below zero.
"So far, everything has gone very well, so I'm 90% stress-free about Ingenuity now," said Jeremy Morrey, a principal engineer at Lockheed Martin, which built the helicopter's protective shield and robotic release mechanism.
Morrey said he and many others on NASA's team watched fervidly as high-resolution images show the aircraft unfolding as designed.
"The images were kind of spectacular really," Morrey said. "I mean, you can see the texture and the carbon fiber makeup of the rotors and the little springs as they were released."
Ingenuity was covered in red Martian dust, even though it had been under a cover during the rover's landing on Feb. 18 because thrusters on the rover's landing jet pack had kicked up clouds of debris.
"The cover was designed to protect Ingenuity from rocks and pebbles, not from dust, so there was a gap where dust got in," Morrey said. "Once the helicopter rotors start turning, I expect it will blow away all that dust. They may also stir up a lot more of it though. We'll see."
Lockheed is working on landing apparatus for NASA's next interplanetary helicopter, the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon, Titan, in 2027. Morrey said NASA and Lockheed are watching Ingenuity closely for lessons that can be applied to future missions.
RELATED Live from the moon: NASA aims to wow public with landing video, images The helicopter also has a camera, and sent its first photo back to NASA, showing dusty red pebbles below it. The aircraft is carrying no science equipment as NASA considers it purely a demonstration of powered flight on another planet.
The helicopter's survival since its release Saturday confirms that it has "the right insulation, the right heaters and enough energy in its battery to survive the cold night, which is a big win," said MiMi Aung, the helicopter's project manager with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
NASA plans a live broadcast at 11 a.m. EDT Monday to reveal more data and images, which is to include video taken by the rover showing the helicopter flying.
Dispatches from Mars: Perseverance rover sends images
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on March 29 using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm. NASA is targeting no earlier than April 8 for the helicopter to make the first attempt at a powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Photo courtesy of NASA |
“NASA is looking better than it has in decades.”
So, you have no worries about being redirected back to their primary task of muslim outreach? No concern that they’ll dump white males and hire trannies and queers and whatever other protected group? Group membership > competence.
And not a thought to likely coming budget cuts?
Well, good luck with that.
There is a small piece of the fabric from the wing of the airplane that flew at Kitty Hawk by the Wright brothers.
Happily, the history book did include the woman who started the first kindergarten class in Los Angeles.
How is it going to outreach to muslims, especially Iran, from way up there? It doesn’t look like it could carry much of a bomb.
They are already losing focus under Biden*. They announced today that employees are encouraged to “volunteer” to go to the border to take care of illegals.
My son works at NASA but for a contractor. Since he’s technically private sector he doesn’t get to be told to go take care of the hordes of invaders.
I’m sure he’ll be wide awake at 3:30 am watching
You are not making much sense. You talk like Obama is still president. He hasn't been president since January 2017.
Right now, NASA is all set to go back to the moon in another couple of years only with much better technology and this time to establish a permanent base. No country has ever done that. We haven't even talked about Mars yet.
What planet are you living on?
“What planet are you living on?”
I’m in realville, and clearly not on the same planet as you. If you couldn’t understand my post, then we have nothing to discuss.
You act like Trump is still president, and excellence is encouraged. Biden is president, he’s retarded, and Obama is one of the true decision makers. Can you understand that?
Like I said, good luck with cheering on NASA. I’ll stop now.
You are living in far left fantasyland.
The Obama “outreach to Islamic fanatics” was ended by President Trump long ago. In fact Trump's presidency was great for NASA who racked up some impressive achievements under President Trump.
You just know that when future travelers find it they
will be puzzled why that scrap of fabric is there.
Why? What purpose does it serve...???
Um, nope. I act like NASA has made great progress in the last 4 years and is set to moreover achieve what no other country has even come close to doing before in the coming years.
It took Øbowel a couple years before he neutered NASA.
Give Bidet* time, his directions will be coming soon.
Actually Dementia Joe has committed to the moon landing and pretty much everything else that NASA is working on.
Look it up
Future archaeologist will automatically assign a ‘religious significance’ to it...................
Well, uh, yeah, it’s just settin’ there...
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