NASA’s Mars Helicopter is Now Called Ingenuity

The NASA Perseverance rover won’t be alone when reaching the Red Planet’s ground. It will transport the newly named Ingenuity Mars helicopter, as well, with it. The space agency confirmed the title choice this week. Ingenuity will try its first powered flight on another planet, becoming the first one to perform such a mission. NASA picked Ingenuity from lots of entries o the “Name the Rover essay contest” that offered Perseverance its name, too.

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Bubblecar said:

Fascinating design.

From a power consumption point of view, the longer the rotor is the better. From a flight stability point of view, counter-rotating propellers is good. From a launch configuration point of view, the rotors need to be small emough to fit inside the payload fairing so have limited length.

This design seems to have optimised all three. Good.

Bubblecar said:

Fascinating design.

From a power consumption point of view, the longer the rotor is the better. From a flight stability point of view, counter-rotating propellers is good. From a launch configuration point of view, the rotors need to be small emough to fit inside the payload fairing so have limited length.

This design seems to have optimised all three. Good.

On the topic of names, sometimes they’re apt and sometimes they’re not. Curiosity continues to display a distinct lack of curiosity by doubling back on its own track again and again and again. Here’s the latest. And yes, it’s going back downhill again.