Mars | Common News Update

Apr72021 by adminNo Comments

Mars helicopter Ingenuity performs well before first flight

Science

April 7 (UPI) -- NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, the first powered aircraft on another planet, is free of the Perseverance rover that carried it and appears to be functioning well ahead of its first flight on Sunday, the space agency said. NASA plans to broadcast the results of that first flight at 3:30 a.m. EDT Monday after the helicopter transmits data and images to Perseverance, which will send them back to Earth. Advertisement The helicopter detached from the rover's underbelly Saturday and survived subzero temperatures with its own heaters, which NASA said was "a major milestone" in an announcement Tuesday. The 4-pound rover uses solar panels to charge its batteries and keep delicate electronics safe from extreme cold that can reach 130 degrees F below zero. "So far, everything ha...

Mar222021 by adminNo Comments

Mars helicopter Ingenuity could usher in new era of exploration

Science

ORLANDO, Fla., March 22 (UPI) -- NASA's plan to fly a helicopter on Mars for the first time in a few weeks could start a new era of interplanetary exploration like the space agency's little Sojourner rover did in the 1990s, according to several experts. The Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, will be dropped from the Perseverance rover soon, but NASA hasn't determined the exact date. The rover ejected a shield that covered the helicopter over the weekend. Advertisement Ingenuity is purely a demonstration like Sojourner was, but it will provide images of the surface around the Perseverance rover. Depending on its success, NASA may be able to use helicopters to explore Mars faster, said Robert Zubrin, founder and president of the non-profit Mars Society, which advocates for Martian exploration. "R...

Mar72021 by adminNo Comments

NASA’s new Mars rover hits dusty red road, 1st trip 21 feet

Technology

NASA's newest Mars rover has hit the dusty red road, taking a spin for the first time this weekBy MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace WriterMarch 6, 2021, 3:30 AM• 3 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s newest Mars rover hit the dusty red road this week, putting 21 feet on the odometer in its first test drive.The Perseverance rover ventured from its landing position Thursday, two weeks after setting down on the red planet to seek signs of past life.The roundabout, back and forth drive lasted just 33 minutes and went so well that more driving was on tap Friday and Saturday for the the six-wheeled rover.“This is really the start of our journey here,” said Rich Rieber, the NASA engineer who plotted the route. “This is going to be like the Odyssey, adv...

Mar62021 by adminNo Comments

Mars rover Perseverance makes first drive on Red Planet

Science

ORLANDO, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- NASA's new Mars rover Perseverance made its first short drive on the Red Planet and took images of its own wheel marks in the Martian dust, agency engineers said Friday. The rover drove about 21 feet Thursday and used its steering function, performing better than it did on Earth said Anais Zarifian, a Perseverance mobility engineer for NASA, said in a news briefing. Advertisement "Our first drive went incredibly well," Zarifian said. "You can see the wheel tracks that we left on Mars. I don't think I've ever been happier to see wheel tracks that I've seen a lot." A quick test of my steering, and things are looking good as I get ready to roll. My team and I are keen to get moving. One step at a time. pic.twitter.com/XSYfT158AQ— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover...

Mar62021 by adminNo Comments

‘I’m on the move!’: NASA’s Perseverance rover takes its first test drive on Mars

Technology

NASA's Perseverance rover has taken its first drive on Mars, just weeks after landing on the Red Planet.The one-tonne robot travelled 21.3ft (6.5m) in a mobility test that the space agency said will allow the checking and calibrating of the rover's systems and instruments.Once Perseverance really gets going, it is expected to undertake regular commutes of 656ft (200m) or more. Anais Zarifian, Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mobility test bed engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said: "When it comes to wheeled vehicles on other planets, there are few first-time events that measure up in significance to that of the first drive."This was our first chance to 'kick the tyres' and take Perseverance out for a spin." ...