We’re heading northwest for the 11th flight of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which can occur no sooner than Wednesday night time, Aug. 4. The mission profile is designed to remain forward of the rover – supporting its future science objectives within the “South Séítah” area, the place will probably be capable of collect aerial imagery in help of future Perseverance Mars rover floor operations within the space.
Right here is how we plan to do it: On no matter day the flight takes place, we will begin at 12:30 p.m. native Mars time (on Aug. 4, this could be 9:47 p.m. PDT/Aug. 5, 12:47 a.m. EDT). Ingenuity wakes up from its slumber and begins a pre-programmed collection of preflight checks. Three minutes later, we’re off – actually – climbing to a top of 39 toes (12 meters), then heading downrange at a velocity of 11 mph (5 meters per second).
And whereas Flight 11 is primarily supposed as a switch flight – shifting the helicopter from one place to the opposite – we’re not letting the chance go to waste to take a couple of photographs alongside the way in which. Ingenuity’s colour digicam will take a number of photographs en route, after which on the finish of the flight, close to our new airfield, we’ll take two photographs to make a 3D stereo pair. Flight 11 – from takeoff to touchdown –- ought to take about 130 seconds.
As requested by the Perseverance science crew, our new base of operations, which is roughly 385 meters (1260 toes) to the northwest of Ingenuity’s present location, will change into the staging space for not less than one reconnaissance flight of the geologically intriguing South Séítah space.
Want us luck and see you in South Séítah!
