NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has done more than was expected. The chopper has helped its rover buddy Perseverance for so many tasks, but it seems the chopper’s job is getting a lot tougher. Havard Grip, Ingenuity’s chief pilot explained the challenges the chopper is facing during a NASA status update.
The atmosphere at the Jezero Crater is going down, a factor Grip said has “a significant impact on Ingenuity’s ability to fly.” Atmospheric density fluctuates over time and seasonal changes affect how much thrust the helicopter needs to take off from the ground and fly through the air.
Uncharted territory awaits Ingenuity
Lower density makes it tough to perform these tasks. Even full-size choppers on our planet must take atmospheric density into consideration. Ingenuity was designed to work in the Martian atmosphere that is around 1.2-1.5 percent of Earth’s at sea level. But, the chopper has been there long enough to witness a change in atmosphere.
“Thankfully, there is a way to tackle this issue, but it involves spinning the rotors even faster than we have been doing up to now,” Grip said. “In fact, they will have to spin faster than we have ever attempted with Ingenuity or any of our test helicopters on Earth.”
The tiny helicopter is going towards uncharted territory as its team aims to test the rotorcraft. NASA JPL said Ingenuity performed a rotor spin test and could take off on its 14th flight soon. It will be a short flight and will test if the chopper can handle lower atmospheric densities.
Possible problems the chopper could face
Grip warned of the possible hiccups Ingenuity can experience with higher rotor speeds. The chopper might feel an aerodynamic drag that prevents flights, though Grip says this isn’t expected to be an issue yet. The chopper could also feel vibrations that could damage its hardware.
“The motors will need to spin faster, the electrical system will need to deliver more power, and the entire rotor system will need to withstand the higher loads that come with increased rotor speeds,” Grip said.
