We’ve seen better pictures of Mars, but this one is special because it was taken by NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter. Encouraging, the craft managed to survive its first freezing night on Mars, which brings us one step closer to its inaugural flight.
The low resolution photo was taken on April 3 when Ingenuity was still under the Perseverance RoverAnd in fact, you can see two of the rover’s wheels in the top corners of the picture. This photo is a modest sneak preview of what’s to come; as soon as the 4 pounds (1.8-kilogram) helicopters, it will attempt to capture high-resolution color images of the surrounding area at altitudes up to 10 feet (3 meters).
Other good news: Ingenuity made it according to NASA during its first night on Mars as a self-contained system statementIngenuity was tethered to the bottom of the rover until last weekend and endured a 4-inch (10-centimeters) free fall to the surface. The helicopter was dropd surfaced on April 3 and now stands upright on its four outstretched legs.
It is a great relief that Ingenuity managed to survive its first night on Mars. Temperatures in Jezero Crater can drop to –130 degrees Fahrenheit (90 degrees Celsius) at night. Sensitive electronic components and batteries can be seriously damaged at these temperatures. No longer attached to Perseverance, the helicopter will now have to power her heating from its own battery, which it will do by drawing energy from its solar panels.
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“No more free power,” Bob Balaram, chief engineer of the Mars Helicopter Project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, wrote in a statement. article written for NASA.
In a statement, MiMi Aung, Ingenuity Project Manager at NASA’s JPL, said: “We now have confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters and enough energy [Ingenuity’s] battery to survive the cold night which is a big win for the team. “
The helicopter will now monitor itself for the next few days to determine how well the thermal control and propulsion system is doing and whether any adjustments are needed. Assuming everything is irritableboo, the next big step will be to let go of the constraints that currently bind the rotor blades together, followed by testing the blades and associated motors. The team will also assess the vehicle’s autonomous navigation system, along with a device that measures orientation and angular velocity in flight.
Perseverance, which relays messages from Ingenuity to mission controllers on Earth, will then move to Van Zyl Overlook– a good place where the robber comes from can gaze at the 33 by 33 feet (10 by 10 meters) airport on which Ingenuity was dropped.
W.We are getting closer and closer to this historic flight, in which Ingenuity – fingers crossed tightly – will become the first aerial vehicle to take to the skies on an alien world. NASA says the first flight could take place so early Sunday, 11 April.
The helicopter does not carry any scientific instruments other than its cameras. The Ingenuity mission is strictly intended as a technical demonstration as NASA is considering future missions with more advanced air vehicles. NASA has set aside 30 sol, or Mars days, for these important tests.