NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover
Discussion
Beati Dogu said:
Blackpuddin said:
What happens to the Sky Crane once it's dropped the rover? Video I just watched on the Beeb suggests it flies off again, but where to?
It flies off and crashes.Edit: Here's a satellite view from NASA/JPL-Caltech showing the area around the Curiosity rover soon after landing.
Edited by Beati Dogu on Thursday 18th February 17:22
Honestly, they don't.
The rover is lowered quite gently onto its wheels. That's the whole point behind the Skycrane system. It allows the rover to be its own lander and to use its wheels as its "landing pads". Otherwise, it would have needed to sit on a special lander with legs and drive off the lander using a ramp, as all other rovers (apart from Curiosity) have done, whether on the moon or Mars.
Getting rid of the dedicated lander saves a massive amount of weight.
The rover is lowered quite gently onto its wheels. That's the whole point behind the Skycrane system. It allows the rover to be its own lander and to use its wheels as its "landing pads". Otherwise, it would have needed to sit on a special lander with legs and drive off the lander using a ramp, as all other rovers (apart from Curiosity) have done, whether on the moon or Mars.
Getting rid of the dedicated lander saves a massive amount of weight.
The Sky crane ends up at it's lowest potential energy possible, that's what happens to it, whether it works or not.
Nice to see 700k people watching this on NASA TV
Imagine the number of people is this was 1969 and the moon.
If this succeeds will get out the crisps, the brandy and the cigar. Not something I did for Buzz and Neil, I was only 18 months then.... ok, I just need any excuse nowadays to do the above
Nice to see 700k people watching this on NASA TV
Imagine the number of people is this was 1969 and the moon.
If this succeeds will get out the crisps, the brandy and the cigar. Not something I did for Buzz and Neil, I was only 18 months then.... ok, I just need any excuse nowadays to do the above
RacerMike said:
Sort of live at least 
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