• Deebster@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    It’s a slightly clickbaity headline, since it suggests this was a worrying problem, as opposed to part of the plan.

    the recent silent spell, which the two mission teams had expected: The rover had disappeared behind a hill from the helicopter’s perspective, and it didn’t come back into view until June 28.

  • anaximander@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    I love how well this little aircraft has worked out. The official mission for it was to validate an idea - to conduct five flights to demonstrate that it was possible, so that future missions could potentially include a little scout drone that could fly ahead and help find routes through difficult terrain. Then it worked so well that they started doing that on this mission, too - they’re past fifty flights now and have been using photos from Ingenuity to plan Perseverance’s next moves. The team who built this little drone must be thrilled.

  • Randy_Bobandy
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    1 year ago

    “The team’s goal is to keep Ingenuity ahead of Perseverance, which occasionally involves temporarily pushing beyond communication limits,” Anderson added. “We’re excited to be back in communications range with Ingenuity and receive confirmation of Flight 52.”

    All communications to and from Ingenuity must be routed through Perseverance. That explains the recent silent spell, which the two mission teams had expected: The rover had disappeared behind a hill from the helicopter’s perspective, and it didn’t come back into view until June 28.