NASA powers up Ingenuity helicopter on Mars for the 1st time

[Judi Lynn]

By Samantha Mathewson - Space.com Contributor 9 hours ago



An artist's impression of NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity flying on the Red Planet.
(Image: © NASA)

NASA's Mars helicopter, named Ingenuity, successfully powered up for the first time in space this month.

Ingenuity is the first helicopter designed to fly on another planet. It is currently travelling to the Red Planet aboard NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which launched on July 30.

On Aug. 7, the helicopter's six lithium-ion batteries were powered up and charged for the first time in space. The 4-lb. (1.8 kilograms) Ingenuity, which is currently stowed beneath Perseverance's belly, receives its charge from the rover's power supply, according to a statement from NASA.

"This was a big milestone, as it was our first opportunity to turn on Ingenuity and give its electronics a 'test drive' since we launched on July 30," Tim Canham, the operations lead for Mars Helicopter at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, said in the statement. "Since everything went by the book, we'll perform the same activity about every two weeks to maintain an acceptable state of charge."

More:
https://www.livescience.com/nasa-powers-up-ingenuity-mars-helicopter.html

[CentralMass]

1. What awesome line of work to be in.

[brush]

2. Humm. Never thought about a helicopter working in the Martian atmosphere.

Last edited Mon Aug 17, 2020, 10:21 PM - Edit history (1)

DU scientists, how does that work?

[Blues Heron]

3. 4 foot diameter blades @ 2400 RPM

[brush]

4. And...?

[Blues Heron]

5. up up and away!

that's the speed and length of blade you need in that thin air. thing weighs 4 lbs

[Blues Heron]

6. check this pdf out - a fact sheet on the martian drone

https://mars.nasa.gov/files/mars2020/MarsHelicopterIngenuity_FactSheet.pdf

[brush]

7. Thanks, Blue Heron (like your screen name).

[Blues Heron]

8. you're welcome!

[krispos42]

10. Probably not too well

Mars has one-third our gravity but one thousandth our atmosphere. The blades must be big and moving fast to shove enough air downwards to generate lift.

Now... the nuclear-powered octocopter drone that was proposed for Saturn's moon Titan... that sounds both practical and insane. Much thicker atmosphere that us, and with much lower gravity.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

9. Can you maybe update the title... it's not ON Mars at this time

.... thought I'd slept through a few months!! LOL!