Ingenuity’s flight to Mars is delayed again because NASA corrects software bug

The first flight of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter was delayed again after it encountered an error in the aircraft’s flight control software during tests last week. The mini-helicopter remains grounded on the surface of Mars’ Jezero crater as it waits for engineers to customize, test and reinstall the software. NASA has said it will come up with a new date for the first flight test next week.

Ingenuity, the four-pound helicopter that arrived on Mars on February 18 with its parent robber, Perseverance, is nine days into a month-long test window that began when its four legs first hit the surface of Mars on April 4. . The helicopter went through a series of tests and settlements before flying, surviving the first icy night on Mars, unlocking its double carbon fiber blades and doing some stationary rotor tests.

The first rotation at slow speeds at 50 rpm went well early last week, while NASA was working on a debut flight on Sunday night. But engineers encountered a problem Friday night when they went for the quick rotor test: Ingenuity’s “watchdog” software detected an error and prevented the vessel from performing the test. Ingenuity was healthy, it could not turn the fast rotor.

“Over the weekend, engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory decided that a small adaptation and reinstatement of Ingenuity’s flight control software is the strongest way forward,” NASA said in a blog post on Monday night. Changing the software means that independent engineers have to review and test the changes before re-installing them on Ingenuity’s computer, a process that can take an entire week to complete.

Photo: NASA / JPL

NASA said “our best estimate of a targeted flight date is currently fluid, but we are working to reach these milestones and will set a flight date next week.” Engineers will set a new date for the high-speed test and the first flight after sending the new software through Perseverance’s communications hub and launching it to Ingenuity.

Meanwhile, NASA said perseverance will continue to do science and prepare for a test of MOXIE, an instrument on board that will try to produce oxygen from Mars’ carbon dioxide atmosphere. The rover’s primary mission is to look for signs of ancient life and leave pods of soil samples on the surface for a future mission to fetch and return to earth.

For Ingenuity’s flight test, Perseverance will be watching from a soccer field distance with two cameras on board. The Rover also serves as a communications hub; its Mars base station on board will transmit signals from Ingenuity to satellites orbiting Mars, which will radiate the signals back to Earth.

Ingenuity is expected to perform at least five flight tests within its 31-day test window (or 30 March days). For its debut flight test, the craft will rise 10 feet above the surface, hover in place, turn and then descend for about 40 seconds. Subsequent tests are expected to fly higher and cover short distances, but the exact flight details will be determined by how well the aircraft nails its first flight.

Ingenuity will have to exert great power to increase Mars’ thin atmosphere. If he can do that, it will be the first powered flight in another world, a historic achievement that NASA calls a “Wright Brothers moment” that could extend interplanetary mobility to where traditional cyclists can not travel.

Ingenuity’s carbon fiber rotor blades will rotate around 2400 rpm during flight. For the quick test beforehand, the blades will rotate at 2,537 rpm (while tilted to a certain position so that it cannot pick up accidentally). While engineers adjust the rig software, tap the clock. NASA officials said Ingenuity’s month-long flight test window could not be extended if the helicopter encountered more problems before flying.

“This is primarily a scientific mission for the Perseverance Rover, and it should continue with the primary mission,” said Hårvard Grip, chief pilot of Ingenuity. The edge Saturday night. “Therefore, there is a time limit for the helicopter.”