NASA’s small Mars helicopter Ingenuity has so far flown over the Red Planet for more than 30 minutes. This was a milestone that the team could not have imagined before, announced those responsible at the US space agency after the 17th flight of the device. Meanwhile, the 18th flight is imminent.
In total, Ingenuity has covered almost 3.6 kilometers, was now up to five meters per second (18 km / h) and flew 12 meters high. Immediately after the most recent flight, however, there was no data from the small helicopter, it said. It was only five days later that it was possible to confirm that everything had worked out.
Flight data only days later
When Ingenuity was approaching for landing after its most recent flight on December 5th, the connection had been unexpectedly disrupted, explains NASA. The Perseverance rover, which serves as a relay, passed on some data packets afterwards, but the status of the device was unclear. Information only transmitted on December 10th showed the success of the flight.
Ingenuity is therefore in “excellent condition” and its next flight is imminent. This time it should go 230 meters. Because Ingenuity may not have radio contact with Perseverance when it lands, the sequence has been adjusted. This makes the helicopter even more self-sufficient; in view of the difficult terrain, this is the “new normal”.
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30 minute flight in time lapse (Source: NASA / JPL-Caltech / heise online)
Ingenuity had been brought to Mars by Perseverance, where it was only supposed to prove that motorized aircraft can take off there. He delivered this demonstration with the historic first motorized flight on Mars. After several more flights, NASA decided not to give up Ingenuity as planned.
Ingenuity is now accompanying the rover, whose mission is once again the focus and which has already collected the first soil samples for transport to Earth. Ingenuity should support Perseverance on its way and explore the landscape from above.
(mho)