{"id":25058,"date":"2021-03-10T18:57:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T10:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nasa-preparing-to-fly-ingenuity-mars-drone-enabling-future-airborne-missions\/"},"modified":"2021-03-10T18:57:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T10:57:58","slug":"nasa-preparing-to-fly-ingenuity-mars-drone-enabling-future-airborne-missions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nasa-preparing-to-fly-ingenuity-mars-drone-enabling-future-airborne-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA preparing to fly Ingenuity Mars drone, enabling future airborne missions"},"content":{"rendered":"

As NASA\u2019s newest Mars rover, Perseverance<\/em>, continues its own checkouts and tests, work is starting for a new phase of the mission \u2013 the Ingenuity<\/em> helicopter. This first-of-its-kind piece of hardware will demonstrate (non-rocket) powered flight on a world other than Earth for the first time. Data from these flights \u2013 expected to begin in 30-60 days \u2013 will help to develop future programs for missions to Mars and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Ingenuity<\/em> is an experimental addition to the Mars 2020 mission. No matter the results of its test campaign, it will not have a significant effect on the primary mission.<\/p>\n

Teams are planning for a 30 day flight window for the helicopter. They currently aim for a minimum of one flight, but that has the possibility of being extended. The first flight will feature a relatively simple 20-30 second low altitude hover test before landing. Afterwards, flights will last longer and travel farther.<\/p>\n

Ingenuity<\/em> features a pair of coaxial, 1.2 meter long, carbon fiber rotors. \u201cCoaxial\u201d means that the rotors are stacked on top of each other and spin in opposite directions, dramatically increasing the lift with a minimal increase in area.<\/p>\n

The rotors will spin at a rate of 2,400 rotations per minute (RPM) \u2013 far higher than the approximately 500 RPM of many Earth-based helicopters. The rotors need to spin fast to account for the extremely thin Martian atmosphere.<\/p>\n

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Ingenuity after assembly at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The carbon fiber patterns on the rotors and legs are visible. Credit: NASA.<\/p>\n

The helicopter is powered by a single solar array above the rotors which charges six lithium-ion batteries. These batteries will enable Ingenuity<\/em> to fly for up to 90 seconds at a time. A single 90 second flight \u2013 the maximum flight time of Ingenuity<\/em> \u2013 will consume approximately 8.75 watt-hours \u2013 less energy than in an iPhone 12 battery.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

See Also<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Mars 2020 Updates<\/li>\n
  • Mars Rover Section<\/li>\n
  • Future Vehicles Section<\/li>\n
  • Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Technology News<\/path>NASA educational resources<\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<\/path>\n

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    Four carbon fiber legs sticking out of the corners of the main body will absorb any extra velocity and shocks upon landing.<\/p>\n

    The combination of its small size and large amount of composite materials makes Ingenuity<\/em> especially light, massing 1.8 kilograms. On Earth, this equates to 17.7 Newtons (4.0 pounds), but in Mars\u2018 lower gravity, Ingenuity<\/em> weighs only 6.7 Newtons (1.5 pounds).<\/p>\n

    Once it is deployed from Perseverance<\/em>, Ingenuity<\/em> will communicate with Earth through the rover. Each has a small antenna to talk to each other, and the rover will relay data back to Earth using its more powerful communications suite.<\/p>\n

    Throughout the cruise to Mars, Ingenuity<\/em> communicated and received power directly through Perseverance<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    On August 13, 2020, NASA announced that the helicopter was powered on and recharged in space for the first time. This was approximately two weeks after launch. The batteries were only charged to 35%, since each full charge and discharge of lithium-ion batteries slightly reduces their longevity. Keeping them at a low-to-medium charge level minimizes this impact.<\/p>\n

    Engineers then repeated this test approximately every two weeks during the cruise to Mars.<\/p>\n

    Perseverance<\/em> \u2013 with Ingenuity<\/em> attached on its belly \u2013 touched down on Mars on February 18, 2021.<\/p>\n

    The helicopter is currently still connected to Perseverance<\/em>, as the latter completes its checkouts and initial operations on the Martian surface.<\/p>\n

    On March 2, the rover successfully deployed and tested its robotic arm. The arm contains several instruments and cameras, most notably the rover\u2019s drill. It also features the PIXL and SHERLOC instruments \u2013 containing an x-ray and ultraviolet spectrometer, respectively. These will enable more detailed analysis of surface materials.<\/p>\n

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    A view of the Martian surface \u2013 featuring fresh tire tracks \u2013 as seen by Perseverance after its maiden drive on March 4. Credit: NASA.<\/p>\n

    Two days later, on March 4, Perseverance<\/em> completed its first drive across Mars. The 6.5 meter (21.3 feet) trek gave rover operators and mission planners at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) their first opportunity to test out and calibrate the rover\u2019s motors. The short drive consisted of a four meter move forward, a 150 degree left turn, and a final 2.5 meter drive in reverse. The team reported that the rover\u2019s performance was excellent.<\/p>\n

    They are now beginning the search for a flat and clear area of land \u2013 appropriately nicknamed the \u201chelipad\u201d \u2013 at which Ingenuity <\/em>will be deployed. Once Perseverance<\/em> finds and moves to such a location, the team will command the rover to deploy Ingenuity<\/em>. This will take place approximately 30 days after landing.<\/p>\n

    The deployment process consists of several steps to deliver the helicopter to the Martian surface.<\/p>\n

    First, the cover protecting Ingenuity<\/em> will be jettisoned, and Perseverance<\/em> will drive away. Then, the first connections to the helicopter will be cut, and two of its landing legs will be deployed \u2013 rotating it away from the belly of the rover. It will then be rotated to a fully upright position under the rover, where its final two legs will be deployed.<\/p>\n

    Perseverance<\/em> will then drop Ingenuity<\/em> onto the surface, and drive away to a safe distance.<\/p>\n


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