Mars Ingenuity helicopter takes off on challenging 12th flight over the Red Planet

[ad_1]

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity made its 12th flight to the Red Planet on Monday, August 16, in which the small helicopter served as eyes in the sky for its larger companion, the Perseverance rover.

The flight was designed to serve as reconnaissance for the rover’s continued explorations in an area dubbed South Séítah, according to a flight plan released by NASA prior to the attempt which called the sortie “ambitious.”

“Flying over Séítah South carries significant risks due to the diversity of the terrain,” Ingenuity scientists wrote in the plan. “When we choose to accept the risks associated with such a flight, it is because of the corresponding high rewards. Knowing that we have the opportunity to help the Perseverance Scientific Planning team by providing unique aerial imagery is key. the necessary motivation. “

Related: Watch NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter explore the intriguing Raised Ridges

A photograph of Ingenuity's 12th flight, taken on August 16, 2021, shows the silhouette of the helicopter on the wavy surface of Mars.

A photograph of Ingenuity’s 12th flight, taken on August 16, 2021, shows the silhouette of the helicopter on the wavy surface of Mars. (Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech)

Unlike most of its recent flights, this outing saw Ingenuity make a round trip. This choice corresponded to the purpose of the flight. While the helicopter had focused on staying one step ahead of Perseverance, this time Ingenuity was gathering detailed spotting information for the rover.

Indeed, if the flight over South Séítah is risky for the small helicopter, crossing the region is also dangerous for the Perseverance rover. But the region is also full of intriguing rocks that the Perseverance science team would like to study closely.

Thus, the ten color photographs and the stereo scene that Ingenuity was tasked to capture during its flight will guide the scientists of Perseverance when they decide where to point the rover. After Perseverance’s first sampling attempt fails to capture any rocks, the team is looking for a new target to try and prepare for a future convoy mission to Earth.

Members of the Ingenuity team record statistics and notes on each flight in a logbook; this discrepancy shows the entries for the ninth and 10th helicopter flights.

Members of the Ingenuity team record statistics and notes on each flight in a logbook; this discrepancy shows the entries for the ninth and 10th helicopter flights. (Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech)

In its first 11 flights, Ingenuity had flown a total of about 1.4 miles (2.2 kilometers) and spent nearly 19 minutes in the Martian skies, according to tallys provided by NASA. The 12th flight added nearly 1,500 feet (450 meters) and 169 seconds to that total.

Ingenuity has far exceeded its original directive of making five flights around its initial deployment site in a month to prove that it is possible to fly a rotorcraft on Mars.

Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

[ad_2]

Source link