NASA’s Mars helicopter survives first frigid night
Posted April 5, 2021 11:18 am.
Last Updated April 5, 2021 11:21 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – NASA’s Mars Helicopter has passed another big test — it didn’t freeze.
Ingenuity dropped off the belly of the Perseverance rover over the weekend and successfully survived its first frigid night on its own.
The ultimate goal is to conduct the first-ever powered, controlled flight on another planet, which would mark the beginning of an exiting new chapter in space exploration.
That could happen by Sunday, April 11, but only if everything goes perfectly.
Ingenuity will spend this week testing out its power and heating systems, and getting its rotor blades ready to go.
Evening temperatures in the Jazero Crater, where Ingenuity landed, can drop to as low as minus 90 degrees Celsius, according to NASA. These frigid temperatures can crack and freeze unprotected components and damage batteries.
Safe and sound on the surface! Our Ingenuity #MarsHelicopter survived the first cold night on its own, a major milestone on the Red Planet, where surface temps can plunge as low as -130° F (-90° C). Its first flight attempt will be no sooner than April 11: https://t.co/pdr8Cssr1R pic.twitter.com/BAQj8KmeRI
— NASA (@NASA) April 5, 2021
“This is the first time that Ingenuity has been on its own on the surface of Mars,” said MiMi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“But we now have confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters, and enough energy in its battery to survive the cold night, which is a big win for the team. We’re excited to continue to prepare Ingenuity for its first flight test.”
Sunday, April 4 marked the first time Perseverance downlinked the first images of the four-pound helicopter on the surface of the Red Planet.
