Posted on 10/25/2021 3:39:52 PM PDT by Ezekiel
The #MarsHelicopter successfully performed a short hop in its current airfield to test out higher rpm settings so it can fly in lower atmospheric densities on the Red Planet. This test also leaves the team room for an rpm increase if needed for future flights.
In these crappy times, it's important to have some good news from time-to-time.
NASA/JPL's engineering excellence is something to be proud of as Americans.
Amazing pictures. Thanks.
A helo that went 14 flights without maintenance? It’ll need tech reps soon.
NASA really scored big with the helicopter idea.
Gotta luv little Ginny! Talk about a “Can-Do” champ.
It was originally planned to fly 5 times as a proof of concept. It’s now flown over a mile!
https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/#
Orville Wright took the Flyer for a 12-second, sustained flight on December 17, 1903.
“The Little Helicopter that Could!”
Amazing. As low pressure as the atmosphere was a few months ago, I guess it is now even lower with seasonal changes on Mars. The NASA team was able to successfully ramp up the RPMs on the helicopter rotors to compensate.
Ginny triumphs again!
The 2 Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, were supposed to last 90 days. Opportunity lasted 12-13 YEARS. HAH! When we do it right, we do it way right!
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