Ingenuity aced its 'Wright Brothers moment' a year ago — and it's still going strong.
rover on Feb. 18, 2021. Just over two months later, the 4-pound Ingenuity made its first foray into the Martian skies, hovering about 10 feet above the red dirt of a site named, appropriately enough, Wright Brothers Field., which has an atmosphere just 1% as dense as that of Earth at sea level. That was the main goal of the little helicopter's technology-demonstrating mission, which called for five pioneering flights over the course of 30 Martian days, or sols.
"I think we would have all said that we'd consider ourselves lucky if we could get just the one flight and land safely, and extremely lucky if we could get to the end of that initial 30-sol tech-demo window with five flights under our belts," Karras told Space.com.
Ingenuity has also taken on reconnaissance duties: The rotorcraft's aerial observations are now helping the Perseverance team plan the safest, most efficient routes for the rover and identify potential science targets. Ingenuity's longevity and adaptability are a testament to its solid engineering and the creativity of its handlers, Karras said. For example, the chopper's navigation software was designed to deal only with flat, relatively hazard-free terrain. But it's robust and flexible enough to allow Ingenuity to fly over some seriously rugged landscapes, he added, such as Jezero's dune-studded Séítah region.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ask Amy: Rom-com might not have happy endingDear Amy: They say you never forget your first love.
Read more »
Elon Musk Wishes DOGE Army Happy Easter with Floki Picture and 'DOGE Eggs'.elonmusk tweets $DOGE-themed Easter picture with 'DOGE-eggs' for the Dogecoin army. BillyM2k HappyEaster2022
Read more »
Ask Amy: Rom-com might not have happy endingDear Amy: They say you never forget your first love.
Read more »
Happy Easter! Newborns at San Antonio Hospital get bunny makeoversIt’s an “egg-stra” special Easter for some new parents in San Antonio as they celebrate the arrival of their newborns.
Read more »
Keep screwing up egg fried rice. It makes Uncle Roger happyThe YouTube hit is the brainchild of stand up comic Nigel Ng, who's in the middle of a world tour. But can he stand out beyond his character?
Read more »