NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter is scheduled to take off on April 14 in the very first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet, a delay from the initial planned launch date.
While the lifting was initially aimed at Sunday, April 11, the agency announced the delay Saturday afternoon.
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In a release, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) explained that the decision was made based on data that came late Friday night.
“During a high-speed rotary test of the rotors on Friday, the test sequence that controlled the test was terminated early due to a ‘watchdog’ timer. This occurred while trying to run the ‘Flight’ flight computer. to “Flight Mode,” they explained. “The helicopter is safe and sound and has communicated its full telemetry to Earth.”
The watchdog timer monitors the command sequence and warns of possible problems. It also helps keep the system safe by not continuing if a problem is noticed.
“The helicopter team is reviewing telemetry to diagnose and understand the issue. After that, they will reschedule the speed test,” they said.
At a pre-flight news conference on Friday, representatives of JPL Ingenuity and Perseverance Mars robbers expressed their excitement for the historic event.
Thomas Zurbuchen, a co-administrator of science at NASA headquarters, said a selfie of the rover and rotorcraft showed that the team was’ ready ‘and that the flight’ would really change the trajectory of what is possible. is’ in the exploration of space.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took a selfie with the Ingenuity helicopter, which is seen here about 3.9 meters from the rover. This photo was taken by the WASTON camera on the robotic arm of the Rover on April 6, 2021, the 46th March day, or sol, of the mission. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS
(NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)
The manager of Ingenuity Project, MiMi Aung, gave an update on Ingenuity’s progress before the flight, pointing out that the autonomous helicopter successfully recharged its solar battery and communicated with Perseverance.
She said the team had fully confirmed that they had enough energy and power to perform the flight test, and that they were examining thermal models, turning on sensors and computers and completing the operation of the rotor blade.
A final completion test to turn Ingenuity’s rotors at full speed after the flight revs (revolutions per minute) was scheduled for Friday and thereafter they would be ‘ready’.
“And we will test, prove and learn, no matter what the outcome in this first attempt,” Aung said.
The whole flight will take about 40 seconds. If all final controls and atmospheric conditions look good above the Jezero Crater flight zone, Ingenuity will climb, rotate, take photos with a 13-megapixel camera at 3 feet per second and soar at 10 feet above the surface.
“So, we are very excited. It can be an amazing day. We are all nervous, but we have the confidence that we have put in the work and the time and that we have the right people to do the work,” he said. Tim Canham, Head of Health Operations, told Aung.
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Success is not a certainty, and Amelia Quon, an engineering room test engineer, pointed out that the extremely cold and thin atmosphere of the red planet can present challenges for the effort.
“This is about one percent of the density of the Earth’s atmosphere at sea level. That equates to about 100,000 feet above Earth or three times the height of Mount Everest,” she explained. “We don’t usually fly things that high.”
Aung said they chose their flight time with atmospheric hurdles and weather conditions in mind, although Malin Space Science Systems Mastcam-Z Uplink Operations Lead Elsa Jensen said they know there will still be surprises.
“We hope everything will go well on Sunday, but we know there will be surprises. That’s what we’ve been training for,” she said.
“It gives me the chills sitting here and thinking about the fact that my team and I are going to take photos and videos of you flying on Mars on Sunday.” says Jensen smiling.
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The helicopter team has a period of 30 March days to take up to five flights, each with the chance to record additional data.
An in-flight briefing is expected to take place on April 12 at 11 a.m. EDT, though JPL noted in a release earlier last week that the timing for events is subject to change.