# Perseverance rover on Mars (was: Mars lander set for Feb 18th landing) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068 "2021-02-02T17:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/181 "2021-04-04T15:28:12Z")
It’s cool, but we can also get useful information out of it. The SuperCam microphone in particular was added as a complement to the laser-induced breakdown spectrometer. We can hear the pops of the laser ablating the rock surface, and from the sound profile tell a lot about how well the laser is coupling to the surface, and how the rock is breaking down. So there will be science from the microphone as well. We may also find it useful to listen to mechanisms on the rover during certain events, or to the wind. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/182 "2021-04-05T20:37:24Z")
Ingenuity is no longer attached to Percy > **[NASA's Mars Helicopter Survives First Cold Martian Night on Its Own – NASA...](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8906/nasas-mars-helicopter-survives-first-cold-martian-night-on-its-own/)** > > NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter can be seen on Mars as viewed by the Perseverance rover’s rear Hazard Camera on April 4, 2021, the 44th Martian day, or sol of the mission. Soonest flight is April 11 Brian ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/183 "2021-04-05T20:56:12Z")
That article mentioned that Ingenuity has no scientific instruments. Does it, at least, have a camera? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/184 "2021-04-06T00:55:58Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > That article mentioned that Ingenuity has no scientific instruments. Does it, at least, have a camera? Yep: > **[Ingenuity's First Color Snap - NASA Science](https://science.nasa.gov/resource/ingenuitys-first-color-snap/)** > > The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter took this image with its color camera from beneath the Perseverance rover after the rover had deployed the rotorcraft to the surface of Mars. Image was taken on April 3, 2021. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/185 "2021-04-06T01:12:51Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It appears that Mars is actually quite a seasonably warm place, and there may be people there, but there’s really no way to know for sure I can’t speak of people on Mars, and it does get rather chilly at night, but it can get to be almost balmy on Mars during the day; up to around 70 F. Dr. W. W. Coblentz’s measurements weren’t that far off. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/186 "2021-04-09T17:30:41Z")
Ingenuity pre-flight briefing (live when this is posed) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9C_IyUdKKXI/maxresdefault.jpg "Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Preflight Briefing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C_IyUdKKXI) They did show the 50 RPM rotor spin test video. Flight is scheduled for 10:54 PM EDT Sunday April 11 Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/187 "2021-04-09T18:59:03Z")
Video of rotors spinning (may not be the best one: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTx9M5L4V0Y) Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/188 "2021-04-12T10:46:12Z")
Ingenuity flight delayed – an issue was found during testing > **[Mars Helicopter Flight Delayed to No Earlier than April 14 - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/291/mars-helicopter-flight-delayed-to-no-earlier-than-april-14/)** > > Based on data from the Ingenuity Mars helicopter that arrived late Friday night, NASA has chosen to reschedule the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter’s first experimental flight to no earlier than April 14. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/189 "2021-04-12T22:22:58Z")
I’m sure none of you noticed, but yes, that’s me (Barnacle Bill) in the left background, watching from a safe distance (I hope!). ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2021, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/190 "2021-04-14T10:36:22Z")
The test flight is going to be a couple more weeks away by the looks of it: > **[Work Progresses Toward Ingenuity’s First Flight on Mars - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/290/work-progresses-toward-ingenuitys-first-flight-on-mars/)** > > The Ingenuity team has identified a software solution for the command sequence issue identified on Sol 49 (April 9) during a planned high-speed spin-up test of the helicopter’s rotors. Over the weekend, the team considered and tested multiple... ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/191 "2021-04-14T13:33:53Z")
I’m stupidly excited for this thing to work! ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/192 "2021-04-18T23:09:33Z")
Trial early Monday morning (3:30 a.m. EDT) Live stream 6:15 a.m. EDT > **[NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday – NASA Mars...](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8919/nasa-to-attempt-first-controlled-flight-on-mars-as-soon-as-monday/)** > > A livestream will begin at 3:15 a.m. PDT that morning as the helicopter team prepares to receive the data downlink at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. schedule here (mentioned in the above link) > **[Mars Helicopter - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/#Watch-Online)** > > The Mars Helicopter is a technology demonstration to test powered flight on another planet for the first time. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/193 "2021-04-19T10:52:58Z")
Success!!! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/194 "2021-04-19T10:52:58Z")
Woot! They just confirmed a successful takeoff, hover, and touchdown. No pictures yet but there was a good looking altitude graph 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/195 "2021-04-19T10:53:38Z")
Nice, a picture of the choppa’s own shadow. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/196 "2021-04-19T10:55:13Z")
Sweet, and an animation from Perseverance. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/197 "2021-04-19T10:57:42Z")
[![](https://i.ibb.co/s2MBnSW/Capture.png) ](https://i.ibb.co/s2MBnSW/Capture.png) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/198 "2021-04-19T10:58:04Z")
How fast is that shutter speed? Those blades are spinning at 2500 rpm! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/199 "2021-04-19T10:59:30Z")
Yeah, I was surprised at that too. But clearly it’s at close to local noon, so it must be reasonably bright out. And it’s a B&W cam so it’ll have pretty high capture efficiency. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/200 "2021-04-19T11:02:27Z")
Time to call it a night. Worth staying up for, though! I’m feeling like the next lander should deploy a dozen of these, and have them autonomously hop away a few hundred meters at a time, spreading out and analyzing the landscape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=11)