AkaSci 📡 Profile picture
Jun 6 7 tweets 3 min read
Update on #MarsHelicopter Ingenuity. As the heaters and electronics have been shut off at night to conserve power, one of the navigation sensors, called the inclinometer, has stopped functioning. But the team will still be able to fly it soon using some spare accelerometers.
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The inclinometer's two accelerometers measure gravity prior to spin-up and takeoff; the direction of the sensed gravity is used to determine Ingenuity's orientation. NASA scientists had created a backup method to generate this data before Perseverance landed on Mars!
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The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) contains accelerometers which can provide similar but less accurate data. The new software, already being uploaded, will in real-time patch this data in place of the data from the Inclinometer.
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The SCA100T dual-axis inclinometer is made by Murata in Finland. Not sure whether Ingenuity uses a commercial part or a space-hardened one.
muratafinland.com/sensor-develop…
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More testing and commissioning activities are planned for the next few sols.
Ingenuity has already passed all of its original mission goals and hopefully it will be ready to take flight again soon and play its role as scout buddy for Perseverance.
5/
Check out this earlier thread on how dust and the winter season is affecting the battery capacity of #MarsHelicopter Ingenuity and the steps being taken to deal with the situation.

6/
For more details on the story, see mars.nasa.gov/technology/hel…
7/

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More from @akaschs

Jun 8
Around May 24, JWST sustained a dust-sized micrometeroid impact to its primary mirror segment C3. Initial assessment shows that the telescope's performance remains above all mission requirements although there is a marginally detectable effect in its data.
1/ Image
The size of the micrometeroid and the physical nature of the damage are not clear from the report. JWST does not have cameras to observe such damage. The impact of the micrometeroid is judged based on its effect on image quality.
2/
Such micrometeroid events are expected and have been simulated and tested on the ground. Since launch, there have been 4 smaller measurable micrometeoroid strikes; the latest one is larger than the degradation predictions assumed by JWST engineers.
3/ Image
Read 6 tweets
Jun 8
While #MarsHelicopter Ingenuity is learning how to fly with a broken Inclinometer, Mars Rover Perseverance has been been busy roaming the "bacon strip" area near the Delta region, looking for interesting rocks. Hopefully, it will find one worthy of a rock core collection soon.
1/ Image
This is the current location of Perseverance, right on top of the "bacon strip". Percy is probably hesitant to climb up the delta until Ingenuity moves to a better location, since Ingenuity needs Percy to communicate with earth.
2/ Image
The approach to the "bacon strip" area on June 6 -
3/ Image
Read 8 tweets
Jun 6
The Artemis @NASA_SLS rocket left the Vehicle Assembly Building around 12:01am ET earlier today and completed its four-mile trek to Launch Complex 39B around 8:20 a.m. EDT.
Let’s take a look at the unique NASA crawler-transporter vehicle used for this purpose.
1/ Image
A pair of crawlers (nicknamed “Hans” and “Franz”) were built in 1965 to move the massive Saturn V rocket from Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39. After the Moon landing and Skylab programs ended, the crawlers were used to transport the space shuttles.
2/ Image
CT-2 was upgraded for the Artemis program around 2012 with new generators, control system modifications, diesel engine refurbishments and upgraded roller bearings.
CT-1 was originally planned for commercial launch vehicles but its future remains uncertain.
3/ Image
Read 13 tweets
May 5
Where is Mars Rover Perseverance and where is it headed next?
The map below shows its path over the past few days, as it traveled west and then doubled back.
Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is parked about 1 km east after its Flight 28 on Apr 29.
1/
It appears that Perseverance is going to try the alternate route through an area called Hawksbill Gap to climb up the Jezero crater delta region. The diagram below includes some guesses for the new route.
2/
During its journey through the region called the Enchanted Lake, no samples were collected in anticipation of more geologically interesting rocks along Perseverance's long journey.
mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/missi…
3/
Read 4 tweets
May 4
The Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 #Starliner began its journey to @ulalaunch's Space Launch Complex-41. By the end of the day, Starliner wil be mated to the #AtlasV rocket. Launch is scheduled for May 19.
But it had a rather jarring glitch on the way 🙁

1/
Earlier in the day, a hydraulic leak on the @ulalaunch transport vehicle caused some delays.

2/
And then Starliner got moving. Looks like the wish below came true, with that sudden wind force that dislodged that window cover?

3/
Read 4 tweets
May 2
Here is an insightful thread by JWST experts, prompted by a question about expectations of JWST optical performance and how well it is meeting or exceeding them so far.
@markmccaughrean @MartynEdin @cathirame @marshallperrin @pontoppi @fox_ori @AndrasGaspar @leefeinberg1
1/ Image
The tweets have been arranged in a single thread here. The originals had a few branches.
2/
JWST optical performance expectations and uncertainties.
3/
Read 19 tweets

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