Flight history to be made tomorrow

[CYXR 257]

Ingenuity’s flight test on Mars is set to begin around 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday (0730 GMT Monday). 

how to watch it here: 
https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-first-flight-how-to-watch

 

[martin-w 3,313]

Thank you. If you hadn't reminded me I would have missed it.

😁

[martin-w 3,313]

😁

Edited April 19, 2021 by martin-w

[martin-w 3,313]

 

[martin-w 3,313]

Success!!!!

First flight on Mars!!!

 

History in the making.

[Victoroos 205]

Aesome! 🙂

[martin-w 3,313]

I don't use the word "cool" but the cool thing is that a small piece of the Wright Flyer was attached to the underneath of the solar panel. A bit of the Wright Flyer has now flown on mars. 

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2021 by martin-w

[Christopher Low 5,517]

The best part about that flight is how stable it looked. That makes me very optimistic that we will get some great footage from this little helicopter as the mission unfolds.

[Luis Hernandez 632]

Yesterday I watched live when the photos and telemetry data arrived to JPL, and the emotion at mission control, but this video is awesome 😮

[martin-w 3,313]

4 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

The best part about that flight is how stable it looked. That makes me very optimistic that we will get some great footage from this little helicopter as the mission unfolds.

 

That struck me too. Given how thin the Martian atmosphere is and the difficulty generating enough thrust, very impressive. I recall they said the rotor spins at 2500 RPM. 

[n4gix 4,979]

I wonder how long the batteries will last. I don't suppose there is a provision for re-charging them.

I also wonder just how 'precise' control will be when the lag in communications is taken into account. 

[martin-w 3,313]

It's solar powered. Plus a battery. The sun charges the battery. 

It's programed via the datalink from Earth and then left to do It's thing. Wouldn't be possible any other way because the lag is about 15 minutes. 

Edited April 20, 2021 by martin-w

[martin-w 3,313]

Now this is nice. Enhanced video.

 

 

[Christopher Low 5,517]

Ingenuity (to Perseverance): Look, Mum....I'm flying!!

Perseverance: Stop messing about, Ingen. Get back down here, and do some proper work.

[CYXR 257]

3 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

Ingenuity (to Perseverance): Look, Mum....I'm flying!!

Perseverance: Stop messing about, Ingen. Get back down here, and do some proper work.

Their official  nicknames at JPL  are Percy and Ginny.