Posted on 12/07/2021 5:49:21 PM PST by Ezekiel
Ingenuity has flown 17 times! After a successful traverse to the northeast, the radio comms link between Ingenuity & @NASAPersevere was disrupted during landing. The rover later received telemetry suggesting Ingenuity is healthy & it’s an understood issue. https://go.nasa.gov/31A9FqU
This has been one amazing proof of concept vehicle.
No mistakes by Ingenuity so far. If it does make one, it will probably react by killing everyone who knew about it.
INCREDIBLE. Virtually no air, no real-time communication, cold as hell...and yet it flies!
People have laughed about the “cutesy” names given to the various contraptions on Mars.
But here we have an amazing proof of concept — of ingenuity itself.
What’s not to love?
Can-Do!
Mars has 1% the atmosphere of Earth at sea level. About the same as 20 miles up on Earth. Planes can’t even fly that high. Imagine the difficulties.
The leading edge of the rotors takes a beating in that environment.
Some Ingenuity flight imagery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd0Ca0mbx_c
Here’s one with audio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ndHgKUuWQI
I don’t know but yeah, at 2700 RPM that’s got to take a toll.
I suspect that with any of these projects, expectations are downplayed. Yet it certainly looks like the Mars Helicopter has blown past even the insiders’ best hopes.
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