Mars helicopter to try for new speed record on Thursday

NASA has scheduled the 62nd flight of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and given it the job of achieving a new speed record for rotorcraft on Mars. Ingenuity sets a record on every flight – by adding one to the number of flights taken by a (known) helicopter sent by humans to the Red Planet. The 'copter was originally only …

[Paul_Murphy]

Cool

Growing up with the idea of living on the moon, hotels in space and flying cars this seems quite tame, but it's just one of many steps needed to progress. The engineering required to get this stuff done is just astounding, good going NASA.

[Roger Greenwood]

Re: Cool

Didn't you forget something?

[Paul Hovnanian]

Re: Cool

Potatos?

[Cynical Pie]

Re: Cool

Bacon obviously

[Neil Barnes]

NASA has a habit of doing this...

I suppose this is the time for ob. xkcd: https://xkcd.com/695/

[GraXXoR]

Re: NASA has a habit of doing this...

That one has stuck with me since I first read it. Very poignant...

[elsergiovolador]

Immature

NASA's engaging in immature space-speed contests on Mars, but maybe they should take a page from Earth's mistakes. Before bringing in the high-speed toys, how about setting up some eco-friendly cycle lanes for potential future Mars residents? Mars, considering its red hue, shouldn't just be the playground for the wealthy elite. We ought to think sustainably from the get-go, rather than recreating our terrestrial blunders in extraterrestrial setting.

[Jimmy2Cows]

Re: Immature

Think you missed the joke alert or get my coat icon. Seems like way to many people here have no sense of humour.

[heyrick]

Re: Immature

You'd have thought the cycle lane idea might have been a big clue, no?

#insert <shrug_emoji>

[PhilipN]

"shouldn't just be the playground for the wealthy elite"

Disagree. That's exactly who it should be for. They'll be just fine while we work out how (or whether) to bring them back.

[Toni the terrible]

Re: Immature

Pedal bikes on Mars.... not before Pigs in Spaccccce

[Inventor of the Marmite Laser]

I make 10m/S to be just under 22.4mph.

Well done chaps and chapesses.

[IGotOut]

I know my maths isn't great...

but...

" and traverse 268 meters over 119.3 seconds, at a speed of ten meters-per-second."

Doesn't that make it 1193 metres? Or are these some type of electric or gas meter of an unquantified length?

[Caver_Dave]

Re: I know my maths isn't great...

It should be "up to 10 m/s".

It has to lift off vertically, accelerate to the target point, slow down, take the photographs, then accelerate back, slow down and finally land within that time period.

[Earle M]

Re: I know my maths isn't great...

The linked article mentions a peak speed, not an average speed of 10m/sec.

I assume the total flight time also includes assent and decent, so the total duration seems reasonable for that distance.

[Alan Mackenzie]

Re: I know my maths isn't great...

There is no mention of any dissent, and there is no hint anywhere of indecency.

[Michael H.F. Wilkinson]

Love this

Having grown up in the Apollo age, I just love all these landers, rovers, orbiters, and now helicopters exploring distance worlds.

[Geoff Campbell]

Re: Love this

We now live in a solar system with more bodies populated by robots than by humans. Which is interesting.

GJC

[Toni the terrible]

Re: Love this

All part of the Rise of the Machines plan!

[MattPi]

If only there were other units

As an American, I have no feel for meters/second. Can we get the velocity expressed in Percentage of maximum velocity of a sheep in a vacuum?

[Lurko]

Re: If only there were other units

"As an American, I have no feel for meters/second."

I believe this has been previously demonstrated in a NASA + Mars context.

[vapoureal]

Re: If only there were other units

1 metre/second is roughly 1 yard (3 feet)/second plus 10%

[EricB123]

Re: If only there were other units

Oh,that satellite that was built without proper conversions between English and metric? I remember that.

Anyway, this American moved to Asia years ago, so no need to do the silly metric to English conversions for this El Reg reader. I say that with a bit of pride.

[Craig McAllister]

Re: If only there were other units

100m/s is a football field a second, or roughly the speed of an Indy qualifying session.

Happy to help.

[Joey Potato]

Re: If only there were other units

It is roughly 60 kilofurlongs per fortnight

[EricB123]

Re: If only there were other units

"It is roughly 60 kilofurlongs per fortnight"

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[Atomic Duetto]

Now planning a BBQ

Merino or Dorper, perhaps rapid fire Ouessants?

As I understand it, the Scottish Blackface has been cancelled.

[Toni the terrible]

Re: Now planning a BBQ

scotish blacklace you mean?

[Philo T Farnsworth]

Yay, JPL!

Underpromise, overdeliver.

High five, folks, high five.

[heyrick]

Re: Yay, JPL!

Many of these -->

[Paul Hovnanian]

Don't wear it out

or crash it. We may need it to blow sand off of Perseverance's instruments.

[wsm]

Re: Don't wear it out

There's an idea. Fly over Perseverance and get more out of both devices.

[Phones Sheridan]

Time flies.....

"Two and a half years later"

If asked I would have sworn it had only been a few months.

[W.S.Gosset]

Lucky it's Mars, not Wales

That's more than 10% over the speed limit.

If they're not careful, they could kill someone.

[Toni the terrible]

Re: Lucky it's Mars, not Wales

it might putb Melvin the Martians eye out, take care

[Doctor Tarr]

Keyboard Warriors

"Ingenuity sets a record on every flight – by adding one to the number of flights taken by a (known) helicopter sent by humans to the Red Planet."

I love that fact that the Reg has to include '(known)' in the article, just in case someone chips in. Those pesky unknown helicopters keep breaking records ;)

It's nearly time --------->

[ShortStuff]

Pictures?

Where's the pictures? Could they not afford to put a camera onboard? Or would a camera reveal Devon Island? SMH

[elbisivni]

Re: Pictures?

It has a B&W navigation camera. Photographs from all its missions are all on the mars.nasa.gov site.