NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover

[Russ35]

They've re-established comms.

Had to put Perseverance into 'long-duration listening sessions for Ingenuity’s signal'

For something that was just a test its not doing to bad, Excluding this last flight it stats are

Flights : 71
Flight Time : 128.3 mins
Distance Flown : 11miles
Max ground speed : 22.4mph
Highest Altitude : 24meters

[glazbagun]

Besides proving it can fly, what does Ingenuity do? Is it mapping, or just looking for interesting things for Perseverance to study?

[Beati Dogu]

Yes, it's used to scout out areas for the rover to take a look at.

[CraigyMc]

glazbagun said:

Besides proving it can fly, what does Ingenuity do? Is it mapping, or just looking for interesting things for Perseverance to study?

It covers more ground than the rover can, so is scouting for interesting things.

It wasn't really supposed to live beyond flight 5 (and many of the rover people would have preferred it wasn't on the lander at all).

For something built on a relative shoestring out of primarily off-the-shelf parts, and considering the low density of the martian atmosphere, it's done well.

[hidetheelephants]

Carrying on the long history of JPL under-promising and over-delivering.

[Eric Mc]

CraigyMc said:

It covers more ground than the rover can, so is scouting for interesting things.

It wasn't really supposed to live beyond flight 5 (and many of the rover people would have preferred it wasn't on the lander at all).

For something built on a relative shoestring out of primarily off-the-shelf parts, and considering the low density of the martian atmosphere, it's done well.

And don't forget that it is the first heavier than air craft to fly on another world. That alone is an achievement. It bodes well for places like Titan.

[Silver Smudger]

hidetheelephants said:

Carrying on the long history of JPL under-promising and over-delivering.

[SpudLink]

NASA have confirmed Ingenuity has flown its last mission. They suspect a rotor blade hit the ground.

[louiechevy]

That's a shame but it looks like it's still upright and in contact so not a crash, and not bad 72 flights and 11 odd miles of travelling for an expected 5 flights it did far better than anyone could of hoped for.

[Mr Pointy]

There's a picture of the damaged blade tip here:

https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/26/mars_helico...

[andy_s]

Sorta off topic but while reading up on this I noticed the planned NASA mission to Titan, using a nuclear powered helicopter, well, it doesn't get much better than that for Pistonheaders!

[louiechevy]

Just been reading a suggestion that a possible cause could be the area of Mars it was flying over was very bland and featureless, and that made it difficult for Ingenuity to get its bearings through its cameras resulting in the rotor strike on landing.

[CraigyMc]

louiechevy said:

Just been reading a suggestion that a possible cause could be the area of Mars it was flying over was very bland and featureless, and that made it difficult for Ingenuity to get its bearings through its cameras resulting in the rotor strike on landing.

Was it flying through Swindon?

[MartG]

louiechevy said:

Just been reading a suggestion that a possible cause could be the area of Mars it was flying over was very bland and featureless, and that made it difficult for Ingenuity to get its bearings through its cameras resulting in the rotor strike on landing.

As an FPV drone flyer I can relate to that - it can be difficult to judge altitude over bland/featureless terrain

[louiechevy]

CraigyMc said:

Was it flying through Swindon?

I don't know I did my motorbike test in Swindon and had to ride across the magic roundabout during morning rush hour, bland would not be a word I would use to describe that!

[CraigyMc]

louiechevy said:

CraigyMc said:

Was it flying through Swindon?

I don't know I did my motorbike test in Swindon and had to ride across the magic roundabout during morning rush hour, bland would not be a word I would use to describe that!

It's a common mistake. It's actually a completely normal roundabout, but the surroundings are so bland people talk about it as if they've been on mushrooms.

[louiechevy]

An interesting video of the latest data NASA have got on ingenuity, it lost one of its four blades completely! I'm amazed it's still upright and in contact.

https://youtu.be/a6r4-rDc-3U?si=jhBLSxxDavZqfqdZ