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SpaceX and other space stuff

#1,923
Ingenuity helo was supposed to do a fourth flight today. It didn't go into flight mode, but nothing to worry about. Trying again tomorrow. Here's NASA/JPL statement.:

"Data received from the Mars Ingenuity helicopter on Thursday morning shows the helicopter did not execute its planned fourth flight as scheduled. The helicopter is safe and in good health. Data returned during a downlink at 1:21 p.m. EDT (10:21 a.m. PDT) indicates the helicopter did not transition to flight mode, which is required for the flight to take place.

The team plans to try its fourth flight again tomorrow, April 30, 2021. The flight is scheduled for 10:46 a.m. EDT (7:46 a.m. PDT, 12:30 p.m. local Mars time), with the first data expected back at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California at 1:39 p.m. EDT (10:39 a.m. PDT).

An issue identified earlier this month showed a 15% chance for each time the helicopter attempts to fly that it would encounter a watchdog timer expiration and not transition to flight mode. Today’s delay is in line with that expectation and does not prevent future flights. A briefing scheduled for Friday, April 30, to discuss next steps for the helicopter will continue as planned but will move to a new time, 11:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. PDT)."

Here's a neat article detailing the 4th flight. All technical goals were met or surpassed after the 3rd flight. Now they're gonna push it.
Link Removed
 
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#1,924
fig said:
With Goals Met, NASA to Push Envelope With Ingenuity Mars Helicopter
Click to expand...
Translation:
Factory break-in's done; Now we're gonna hoon this sucker!
buttrock.gif


“When Ingenuity’s landing legs touched down after that third flight, we knew we had accumulated more than enough data to help engineers design future generations of Mars helicopters,” said J. “Bob” Balaram, Ingenuity chief engineer at JPL. “Now we plan to extend our range, speed, and duration to gain further performance insight.”

Next time I get pulled over, I'm just going to say I was "gaining performance insight." Y'know, for science. :whistle:

:D
 
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#1,931
Looks like my wish that Ingenuity lives long enough to do more than planned might just come true:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-to-begin-new-demonstration-phase
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter to Begin New Demonstration Phase – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program
Has as much to do with Perseverance's managers choosing a nearby patch as the first target as it does Ingenuity meeting and exceeding expectations (and surviving the first 4 flights). Might just get to do some real Science!
 
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#1,932
bholder said:
Looks like my wish that Ingenuity lives long enough to do more than planned might just come true:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-to-begin-new-demonstration-phase
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter to Begin New Demonstration Phase – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program
Has as much to do with Perseverance's managers choosing a nearby patch as the first target as it does Ingenuity meeting and exceeding expectations (and surviving the first 4 flights). Might just get to do some real Science!
Click to expand...

That's great! I guess I was wrong about some of my assumptions. And happily so!
 
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#1,933
ahc said:
That's great! I guess I was wrong about some of my assumptions. And happily so!
Click to expand...
well, I think you were right about what the plan was, but NASA and JPL in particular have always seemed willing to "keep rolling" as long as the machine can go. Remember how limited the initial plan for Spirit and Opportunity was, and how many times they extended....
 
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#1,934
bassistkll said:
In case you missed it yesterday Stratolaunch's "Roc" plane's second test flight was a success. Highlights at .
Pretty impressive.
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I was disappointed when the plans to air-launch a Falcon 9 from Stratolaunch fell through, but the engineering seemed pretty daunting - F9 wasn't designed to be carried sideways like that, especially with tanks full.
 
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