Ingenuity: NASA's Mars helicopter makes it three from three

Re:Ingenuity: NASA's Mars helicopter makes it three from three by ggm on Sunday April 25, 2021 @09:06PM (#26938282)

If it has a preplanned last flight, sending it one way along the path the rover plans taking maximises value from terrain mapping and imaging input to route optimisation.

I say if, since the protocol may be to simply stop before it is predicted to drain. The last flight may only be known in arrears.

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Re:Ingenuity: NASA's Mars helicopter makes it three from three by LeoPanthera on Sunday April 25, 2021 @09:50PM (#26938469)

It has solar panels and a battery. The only reason it should ever stop is if it is damaged. (Or falls over? I wonder if the rover could pick it up again.)

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Re:Ingenuity: NASA's Mars helicopter makes it three from three by ggm on Sunday April 25, 2021 @09:58PM (#26938500)

It depends on the battery to survive overnight cold. If it gets unable to stay warm, it might not come back from an overnighter. The battery will have been chosen for flight. It may have sacrificed aH duration for peak intensity and weight

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