March 2024 - Mavericks of Mars: The Ingenuity Helicopter Team’s Favorite Flights
This view of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was generated using data collected by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard the agency’s Perseverance Mars rover on Aug. 2, 2023, the 871st Martian day, or sol, of the mission, one day before the rotorcraft’s 54th flight.
Mavericks of Mars: The Ingenuity Helicopter Team’s Favorite Flights
Mar. 21
Time: 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST; 0300 UTC)
The Ingenuity Helicopter first took to the Martian skies on April 19, 2021, proving for the first time that powered, controlled flight was possible on another world.
Designed as a technology demonstration that would perform up to five experimental test flights over a span of 30 days, the Mars helicopter surpassed expectations – repeatedly – only recently completing its mission after having logged an incredible 72 flights over nearly three years.
Join us for a live talk to learn how Ingenuity’s team used resourcefulness and creativity to transform the rotorcraft from a successful tech demo into a helpful scout for the Perseverance rover, ultimately proving the value of aerial exploration for future interplanetary missions.
Speaker(s):
Dr. Havard F. Grip, Aerodynamics, Flight Control Lead, and Chief Pilot (Flights 1-37), NASA/JPL
Dr. Martin Cacan, Guidance and Control Analyst, Pilot (Flights 15-37), Guidance, Navigation, Control Lead, and Chief Pilot (Flights 38-72), NASA/JPL
Host:
Gregory Smith, Office of Communications and Education, NASA/JPL
Co-Host:
Sarah Marcotte, Mars Public Engagement, NASA/JPL