On April 18, 2022, NASAs Ingenuity Mars helicopter made a record-breaking 25th flight. The rotorcraft covered 704 m (2,310 feet) at a max speed of 5.5 m\/sec (12 mph).<\/p>\n
For our record-breaking flight, Ingenuitys downward-looking navigation camera provided us with a breathtaking sense of what it would feel like gliding 10 m (33 feet) above the surface of Mars at 5.5 m\/sec, said Ingenuity team leader Dr. Teddy Tzanetos, a researcher at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.<\/p>\n
The first frame of the video clip begins about one second into Ingenuitys 25th flight.<\/p>\n
After reaching an altitude of 10 m, the helicopter heads southwest, accelerating to its maximum speed in less than three seconds.<\/p>\n
The rotorcraft first flies over a group of sand ripples then, about halfway through the video, several rock fields.<\/p>\n
Finally, relatively flat and featureless terrain appears below, providing a good landing spot.<\/p>\n
The video of the 161.3-second flight was speeded up approximately five times, reducing it to less than 35 seconds.<\/p>\n
NASAs Perseverance rover acquired this image on April 22, 2021, using its left Mastcam-Z camera. Image credit: NASA \/ JPL-Caltech \/ MSSS.<\/p>\n
Ingenuitys navigation camera has been programmed to deactivate whenever the rotorcraft is within 1 m (3 feet) of the surface.<\/p>\n
This helps ensure any dust kicked up during takeoff and landing wont interfere with the navigation system as it tracks features on the ground.<\/p>\n
Ingenuitys flights are autonomous, explained Ingenuitys pilots at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.<\/p>\n
We plan them and send commands to NASAs Perseverance rover, which then relays those commands to the helicopter.<\/p>\n
During a flight, onboard sensors the navigation camera, an inertial measurement unit, and a laser range finder provide real-time data to Ingenuitys navigation processor and main flight computer, which guide the helicopter in flight.<\/p>\n
This enables Ingenuity to react to the landscape while carrying out its commands.<\/p>\n
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This article is based on text provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.<\/p>\n
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Ingenuity Performs Its Longest and Fastest Flight to Date on Mars ...<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On April 18, 2022, NASAs Ingenuity Mars helicopter made a record-breaking 25th flight. The rotorcraft covered 704 m (2,310 feet) at a max speed of 5.5 m\/sec (12 mph) Continue reading