While waiting for news from #Ingenuity in the past, new ways were devised to keep the excitement high. Here, #Ingenuity was spotted from 480m afar after #Flight48 , by flickering before/after images captured by #Perseverance 11 sols apart.

Animated MCZ RIGHT, LEFT
FL: 110mm
Sols: 737, 748, RMC: 37.0000
Originals: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00748/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZL0_0748_0733346536_832EBY_N0370000ZCAM05142_1100LMJ01.png
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00737/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZR0_0737_0732365748_818EBY_N0370000ZCAM08746_1100LMJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/65dBnoise

#MarsHelicopter #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

Wait! What was that?!

During #Flight48, #Ingenuity caught a glimpse of the reflection of the sun on its shiny thermal skin projected on the ground, together with its shadow on the opposite side of the image.

Animation.

6 undistorted, oriented, stabilized HELI_NAV images
Sol: 741, RMC: 48.0001, LMST: 15:14:31
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00741/ids/edr/browse/heli/HNM_0741_0732732482_883ECM_N0480001HELI02702_0000LUJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#MarsHelicopter #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #MarsHelicopterMovie

As we are waiting for news from #Flight49, I spotted #Ingenuity at its landing 48 location by comparing images captured toward its direction before and after #Flight48. The distance is 480m, quite far for a decent image of the #MarsHelicopter, but the technique yielded unambiguous results.

Animated MCZ RIGHT, LEFT
FL: 110mm
Sols: 737, 748, RMC: 37.0000
Originals: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00748/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZL0_0748_0733346536_832EBY_N0370000ZCAM05142_1100LMJ01.png
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00737/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZR0_0737_0732365748_818EBY_N0370000ZCAM08746_1100LMJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/65dBnoise

#Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

#Ingenuity did a superb job scouting for #Perseverance during #Flight48. This 1:38 min animation shows the flight along with 12 embedded RTE images and many zoomed-in views of interesting details.

One can see many rocks with a cracked or "baked" appearance. But #IANAG™(*)

Processed, stabilized HELI_NAV played @ 5fps
Sol: 741, Flight: 48, LMST: 15:15:47
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00741/ids/edr/browse/heli/HNM_0741_0732732560_840ECM_N0480001HELI05052_0000LUJ01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

(*) I Am Not A Geologist™

#MarsHelicopter #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space

At first glance it looks like an ordinary pile of stones, nothing spectacular, right? Now, let's look closer...

Cracked, hollowed, crusted as if they were baked boulders. That's what the #MarsHelicopter found where it was sent to scout for science.

Context map follows.

Processed, undistorted, rotated animation of HELI_RTE
Flight: 48, Sol: 741, LMST: 15:14:52
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00741/ids/edr/browse/heli/HSF_0741_0732732504_075ECM_N0480001HELI00008_000085J01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#Ingenuity #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #Flight48

#Ingenuity's #Flight48 direction may be an indication that #Perseverance will deviate from its planned route (shown with a white dashed line on the map) and follow one closer to the rim of crater Belva (a possible alternative shown with a green dashed line). Such a route may be easier for the rover, and may present an opportunity to capture images from the interior of Belva.

#Mars2020 #NASA #Solarocks #space

#Ingenuity flew its 48th flight on the Red Planet yestersol, Sol 741. Here is a short animation of its landing:

10 processed, stabilized HELI_NAV images animated at 5fps
Flight: 48, Sol: 741, LMST: 15:15:45
Original: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/00741/ids/edr/browse/heli/HNM_0741_0732732559_083ECM_N0480001HELI04999_0000A0J01.png
Credit: #NASA/JPL-Caltech/65dBnoise

#MarsHelicopter #Mars2020 #Solarocks #Space #Flight48