# 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:** 13
**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:** [May 28, 2021, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/241 "2021-05-28T07:13:15Z")
Ingenuity suffered an interesting software bug on its sixth flight: > **[Surviving an In-Flight Anomaly: What Happened on Ingenuity’s Sixth Flight - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/305/surviving-an-in-flight-anomaly-what-happened-on-ingenuitys-sixth-flight/)** > > On the 91st Martian day, or sol, of NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter performed its sixth flight. Ingenuity uses an “inertial measurement unit” (IMU, not so different from the motion sensors on your phone) to detect short-term movement, but the camera to correct long-range errors. This is a good system overall, since the IMU has excellent sensitivity but can drift, while the camera has less sensitivity but no drift. The problem they encountered is that a glitch caused a frame drop. That’s not too surprising; lots of things can cause a small glitch like that. However, it messed up the timestamps for all subsequent images. The code that fuses the IMU data with the camera data needs accurate timestamps so it can predict what the camera _should_ have been looking at for that frame. That is, it takes some previous camera data, uses the IMU to adjust that data into what the camera should be looking at, and then compares the result with what it actually captured. The difference is the IMU error, which it can fold back into its internal model. But if the timestamps are wrong, then it throws the process off. And in this case, led to overcorrections and oscillation. Fortunately, it landed ok (in part because they don’t use the camera for the landing). Sounds to me like a relatively easy firmware fix. This bug sounded like a relatively subtle one that probably wouldn’t show up in Earth testing unless they did so intentionally. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2021, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/242 "2021-06-19T11:24:21Z")
There’s been a couple of updates on the Mars 2020 website but nothing I felt like sharing. Here is a summary of what Percy is gearing up to do: > **[Perseverance is now ready to actively begin looking for evidence of life on Mars](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/perseverance-is-now-ready-to-actively-begin-looking-for-evidence-of-life-on-mars)** > > The science mission of NASA's Perseverance rover has begun, and it's looking for evidence of life on Mars. 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:** [September 29, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/243 "2021-09-29T23:19:40Z")
It has been a while since I checked the Mars 2020 website News: Percy did have a successful sample collection (the 1st attempt failed) > **[NASA's Perseverance Rover Collects First Mars Rock Sample – NASA Mars...](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/9029/nasas-perseverance-rover-collects-first-mars-rock-sample/)** > > The rock core is now enclosed in an airtight titanium sample tube, and will be available for retrieval in the future. Ingenuity has flown 13 times, but had trouble with flight 14: > **[2,800 RPM Spin a Success, but Flight 14 Delayed to Post Conjunction - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/336/2800-rpm-spin-a-success-but-flight-14-delayed-to-post-conjunction/)** > > It’s been an eventful several Martian days, or sols, since our last blog post, so we wanted to provide everyone with an update on where things stand on Mars. The sun will be between the Earth and Mars, so while the instruments will be collecting data there will be no commands and no data sent for a while. 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:** [November 19, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/244 "2021-11-19T16:39:35Z")
Some video of flight 13 > **[Here’s the best video yet of Ingenuity flying across Mars](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/heres-the-best-video-yet-of-ingenuity-flying-across-mars/)** > > The mission's planners don't know how long the plucky vehicle will last. Brian ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/245 "2021-11-19T16:56:15Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Some video of flight 13 Thanks for posting. That was neat to watch. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/246 "2021-11-19T17:02:31Z")
Thanks for the flight video. Ingenuity has completed two more flights (as of Nov 19) since that one. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/247 "2021-11-20T21:37:13Z")
but… what is it _doing_ ? (Ie, is it taking pictures or other measurements ?) ---
**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:** [January 12, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/248 "2022-01-12T19:43:15Z")
With all the Webb coverage I’d though I would look to see what Percy is up to. Here is data on 5 sample cores in 2021: > **[2021: Samples in Review - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/status/353/2021-samples-in-review/)** > > As the 2021 calendar year comes to a close, it’s nice to sit back and reflect on all the progress we’ve made on Mars this year. Though based on this page it has done 7: > **[Blog: Mars Perseverance Rover Mission - NASA](https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/status/)** > > Blog updates written by Mars Perseverance mission team members. 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:** [March 29, 2022, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/249 "2022-03-29T14:15:25Z")
Its been a while, Ingenuity has now flown 21 times, its new mission is to provide recon for Percy > **[NASA Extends Ingenuity Helicopter Mission](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-extends-ingenuity-helicopter-mission)** > > With its recent 21st flight complete, the Red Planet rotorcraft is on its way to setting more records during its second year of operations. The delta looks promising enough that Percy is planning of doing more driving and les science to get there faster: [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-perseverance-rover-hightails-it-to-martian-delta](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-perseverance-rover-hightails-it-to-martian-delta) Brian ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/250 "2022-04-14T16:12:26Z")
Yay ! It’s still going strong [25th flight…](https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-s-mars-helicopter-completes-record-breaking-flight-b2058171.html) - 704 meters, a new record. ---
**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 20, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/251 "2022-04-20T19:25:36Z")
Percy captures a Solar eclipse: Its been done before, but this is “It’s the most zoomed-in, highest frame-rate observation of a Phobos solar eclipse ever taken from the Martian surface.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aKK7vS2CHC8/maxresdefault.jpg "NASA's Perseverance Rover Sees Solar Eclipse on Mars") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKK7vS2CHC8) Brian ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/252 "2022-04-20T20:23:21Z")
So when are we going to get a picture of Earth obstructing the view of Venus? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/253 "2022-04-20T20:50:31Z")
What a great little video clip! Phobos is very close to Mars and orbits very fast, rising and setting twice each Martian day. I believe the video is meant to be in real time. It takes around 23 seconds to cross something less than the apparent diameter of the sun, which on Mars has an angular diameter of 0.35 degrees, so that’s about in the right ballpark. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/254 "2022-04-20T23:08:38Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > So when are we going to get a picture of Earth obstructing the view of Venus? November 7, 2047 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/255 "2022-04-21T00:19:40Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > > [@dtilque](#): > > > > So when are we going to get a picture of Earth obstructing the view of Venus? > > November 7, 2047. Good day for Illudium, then. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/256 "2022-04-21T11:29:28Z")
Here is a crude simulated view, in the meantime: [![](http://i.ompldr.pw/fkphmz.png) ](http://i.ompldr.pw/fkphmz.png) Inferior planets… ---
**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:** [May 3, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/257 "2022-05-03T14:12:26Z")
Ingenuity takes picture of parachute and back shell: > **[Ingenuity helicopter flies over leftover wreckage from Mars landing last year...](https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/27/ingenuity-helicopter-flies-over-leftover-wreckage-from-mars-landing-last-year/)** 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:** [May 9, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/258 "2022-05-09T20:22:05Z")
Ingenuity will probably not last much longer , but even if it does nothing more it has done way more than expected: > **[After losing contact with its helicopter, NASA put the entire Mars mission on...](https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/05/after-an-amazing-run-on-mars-nasas-helicopter-faces-a-long-dark-winter/)** > > Mars is only going to get colder and darker for the next 10 weeks as winter deepens. Brian ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/259 "2022-12-20T14:31:55Z")
I’m not crying over a robot. You’re crying over a robot! > ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068/260 "2022-12-21T02:38:50Z")
This was about Spirit, but it hits the spot. > **[Spirit](https://xkcd.com/695/)** > > On January 26th, 2274 Mars days into the mission, NASA declared Spirit a 'stationary research station', expected to stay operational for several more months until the dust buildup on its solar panels forces a final shutdown. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perseverance-rover-on-mars-was-mars-lander-set-for-feb-18th-landing/932068.md?page=14)