Ingenuity Mars Helicopter rotor blades unlocked to make the first spin

Happy Noontime my Brothers and Sisters!

3-days until Ingenuity's flight take off and Mission Control just released the Rotor Blades and is about to spin those rotors at less than take off speed.. Thus far, NASA reports that the Martian weather is fine to make Ingenuity's first flight... Let's hope it all goes well!

From NASA:

"On April 7, 2021 NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover sent images of Ingenuity Helicopter’s rotor blade unlock/test and first weather report. Images are clearly indicate that Ingenuity is ready to make First Fly on Mars. Rotor blades now unlocked and helicopter is going to make spin up rotor blades for the first time on Mars (to a speed below what would be needed for flight) while still on the surface.

Perseverance Rover also delivered first ever weather Report from Mars. Weather is necessary for Ingenuity’s flight. The data showed it was just below minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius) on the surface when the system started recording, and that temperature dropped to minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 25.6 degrees Celsius) within 30 minutes. MEDA’s radiation and dust sensor showed Jezero was experiencing a cleaner atmosphere than Gale Crater around the same time, roughly 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) away, according to reports from the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) aboard the Curiosity rover stationed inside Gale. And MEDA’s pressure sensors told engineers the pressure on Mars was 718 Pascals, well within the 705-735 Pascal range predicted by their models for that time on Mars. Mars Helicopter Ingenuity will fly on April 11-12.

Credit: nasa.gov, NASA/JPL-Caltech, NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Enjoy!
Kerry
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