Well, we’ve seen better photos of Mars, but this is special in that it was taken by NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter. Encouraging, the vessel managed to survive the first icy night on Mars, which brings us one step closer to the entry-level flight.
The low resolution photo was taken on April 3 when Ingenuity was still under Perseverance Rover. And in fact, you see two of the wheels’ wheels in the upper corners of the image. This photo is an underrated foretaste of what is to come; once the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) as rotorcraft flies, it will attempt to capture high-resolution color images of its surroundings at altitudes reaching 3 meters.
In other good news, Ingenuity made it according to his NASA through his first night on Mars as a stand-alone system statement. Speed was tied to the bottom of the robber until last weekend and it was able to withstand a 4-inch (10-centimeters) free fall to the surface. The helicopter was dropd on April 3 to the surface and now stands upright on his four outstretched legs.
That Ingenuity managed to survive its first night on Mars is a great relief. The temperatures in the Jezero crater can drop to –130 degrees Fahrenheit (–90 degrees Celsius) at night. Sensitive electronic components and batteries can be severely damaged at these temperatures. The helicopter will no longer be linked to Perseverance heater of his own battery, which he will do by drawing energy from his solar panels.
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“No more free power,” Bob Balaram, chief engineer for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars helicopter project, said in a statement. article written for NASA.
In a statement, MiMi Aung, Ingenuity Project Manager at NASA’s JPL, said: “We now have the confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters and enough energy in [Ingenuity’s] battery to survive the cold night, which is a big win for the team. ”
The rotorcraft will now monitor itself over the next few days to determine how well the thermal control and power systems are doing and whether adjustments will be required. Assuming everything is tough-boo, the next big step will be to release the restraints that currently bind the rotor blades together, followed by testing the blades and their associated motors. The team will also assess the vehicle’s autonomous navigation system, along with a device that measures the orientation and angular velocity during flight.
Perseverance, which conveys messages from Ingenuity to mission controllers on Earth, will then move to Van Zyl Overlook—A lovely place where the robber comes from can view and examine the 33 by 33 feet (10 by 10 meters) airfield on which the Ingenuity is deposited.
WThey are getting closer and closer to this historic flight, in which Ingenuity – with his fingers crossed – will become the first aircraft to take to the skies in a strange world. NASA says the first flight could take place so early Sunday, 11 April.
The helicopter has no scientific instruments other than its cameras. The Ingenuity mission is strictly intended as a technological demonstration, as NASA is considering future missions with more sophisticated aircraft. NASA has set aside 30 sols, or Mars days, for these important tests.