Category: Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

This category shows the latest news about the Perseverance Rover on Mars.

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Getting Started for Science Campaign

After 4 month-preparation, on June 1st, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover started to leave the landing site and to get ready for its science campaign – to collect rock samples. The goal is to have 43 samples after this campaign is completed.

We are building a 1:2 Peseverance Mars Rover Replica, which will perfectly replicate the appearance structure of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover in very fine details, but with no scientific functions, so you will also find 43 sample tube replicas inside the Perseverance Mars Rover Replica.

Before June 1st, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover had tested MOXIE, taken over 75k photos, supported Ingenuity’s flight tests on top of completing all its systems’ health checks. For our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, you will also be able to take photos and videos. There will also be a small screen on the Mars Rover Replica for you to see if everything is connected well and operates normally.

In the next few months, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover will be exploring an area of 4 km^2 – the first collecting site, and it will have traveled for 2.5 to 5 km of distance. The reason to choose this location is that it was under over 100 meters of water 3.8 billion years ago, and by studying the rocks here, we will learn so much about Mars.

With our Mars Rover Replica, you can simulate most of the moves that the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover does although with no real scientific functions. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s InSight Lander Countertuitive Way to Conserve Power

As the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, the Ingenuity Helicopter, and the InSight Lander have been on Mars for over 3 months, more and more dust had been accumulated on the InSight lander’s solar panels. The dust has negative effects on power conservation and it resulted in the InSight lander losing about 30 watt-our energy daily on Mars.

We are building a 1:2 Peseverance Mars Rover Replica, which will perfectly replicate the appearance structure of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover in very fine details, but with no scientific functions. Building the InSight lander is also under our consideration. It can be a nice decoration closet for the Perseverance Mars Rover Replica.

The team came up with an innovative and counterintuitive way to remove the dust. Instead of installing another motor or utilize Ingenuity Helicopter’s blazes, in which both methods require too much power than we want to, to shake off the dust, a small scoop is used to trickle sands near the solar panel, and then the large sand grains will carry the small dust away when the wind blows. That is to say, when to scoop sand also needs to be carefully planned. After the dust’s removal, it has been decided that the InSight lander will go dormant later this Summer to save energy until August.

It can be speculated that dust could also accumulate on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and the Ingenuity Helicopter, but since they move more than the InSight lander, the dust so far is not an yet. For our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, if you drive it outside, dust is not an expected problem since the battery will be inside the body.

Around October 7th, Mars and Earth will rotate to the opposite sides of the Sun, and this will have significant effects on the communications between the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and Earth. So during that period, even though the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover will keep on recording data and send the data back to Earth, Earth will not give any commands to the rover. Essentially, most of the operation will pause till the end of October.

For our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, you won’t need to worry about downtime, since it will be operating on batteries or outlets. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter Photos Stitched into 3D Video

Since the first flight, there are have been many photos of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter since the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover landed on Mars. The photos from the third flight which happened on the 25th of April were stitched into a video. The photos were taken by the two MastCam-z cameras on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s mast. When you watch the video, you will feel like you are standing right by the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter and you are seeing it taking off and flying back.

We are currently building a 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, which perfectly replicates the appearance structure of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. We also have a plan to build a replica of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter.

In the video, you can see the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter, first of all, flew up for 16 feet  (5 meters), flew away for 164 feet (50 meters), and then flew back to the original takeoff spot. For our Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Replica’s Ingenuity Helicopter Replica, you can navigate it with remote control.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter work independently from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Their missions don’t overlap. The main purpose of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter in this mission is first to show that it is possible to control rotorcrafts while exploring Mars, and what meaningful outcomes this can bring for future missions.

Although our 1:2 Rover Replica is smaller and does not have the functions that the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover has, it will be ultra-detailed and realistic. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Robotic Arm Starts Missions

The science instruments WASTON on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Robotic Arm have worked together with MasterCam-Z and SuperCam to learn more about Martian rocks. From the information provided by these cameras, scientists can learn if there was ever life or how the rocks were formed. We are currently building a 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, which perfectly replicates the appearance structure of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, including the Robotic Arm, WASTON, MasterCam-Z, and Super Cam. Users can remotely control the Perseverance Mars Rover Replica to simulate the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s operation.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Robotic Arm plays a very important role when it comes to studying rocks. In order to remove new dust from the surface and expose the inside of the rocks, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Robotic Arm needs to move close to the spot of interest and then control its abrading corer to scrape off the surface. Once that’s done, the scientists will decide if that is a valuable site by carefully studying the images transmitted by PIXL and SHERLOC. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Robotic Arm has not started to drill corers yet because scientists are still deciding which rocks are worthy candidates. The PIXL and SHERLOC will also be perfectly replicated on our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica.

Studying the rocks is how we can learn about Mars. Therefore, the more types of rocks the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover discovers, the better we get to know about Mars, and the more we will be ready for human exploration on Mars. Our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica will also have the sample tubes replica, and users can put rocks, sands, or dirt into them. Not only can it be an ultra-realistic collection, but also a great teaching tool. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

The fifth flight of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter

On the 7th of May Earth time at 3:26 PM EDT or Mars time at12:33 PM, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter started its 5th flight on Mars, and the flight took a total of 108 seconds. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter flew from Wright Brothers field and headed 129m (423 feet) south to a new location. Upon arrival, Ingenuity took a photo of the terrain 10m (33 feet) high up in the air.

The scientists are exploring what kind of information the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter can provide and what more information Ingenuity can possibly provide if giving more tools.
The Ingenuity Helicopter is like a buddy to Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, but it does not affect Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s operation. The purpose of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover is to explore Mars, take rock samples and possibly return the samples to Earth one day. By studying Mars, scientists are exploring the possibility for humans to set foot on Mars one day.

We are currently building a 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, which perfectly replicates the appearance of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Although the 1:2 Rover Replica is smaller and does not have the functions that the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover has, it will be ultra-detailed and realistic. We also have a plan to build a replica of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter. If you are interested in our 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica, you may check out [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter Spends the Night by itself for the First Time

While the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover is performing all the system checks, the Ingenuity Helicopter is also doing its part of the jobs. Giving the low temperature on Mars (it could go down below 90°C at night), keeping all the electronic systems and its mechanical structure warm is crucial. That is why when the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover first arrived, the Ingenuity Helicopter stayed attached to the belly of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover till it was sufficiently charged from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Even after the Ingenuity Helicopter disengaged from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover it still carries backup batteries that were charged from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover.

We are building a 1:2 Peseverance Mars Rover Replica, which will perfectly replicate the appearance structure of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover in very fine details, but with no actual scientific functions. The Ingenuity Helicopter is also in our plan to replicate. The difference between our Mars Rover Replica and Ingenuity Helicopter replica, on Earth, and the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter, on Mars, is we won’t need to keep them warm the whole time. The motors won’t run so heavily so you won’t need to worry about keeping them cool either.

After parting with the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, the rover moved far from the Ingenuity Helicopter so that Ingenuity would receive enough solar power. That is why the first night on its own would be very important, which is one of the milestones set for the Ingenuity Helicopter.

The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover mainly runs on nuclear power, and the Ingenuity Helicopter runs on solar power, but for our Mars Rover Replica and the Ingenuity Helicopter replica, they will run on rechargeable batteries and an external power supply.

Unlike the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, the Ingenuity Helicopter does not carry any science instruments and its purpose on this mission is not for scientific study, but to only show the possibility of exploring a planet with an aircraft, even though it is a small one. It is beyond excitement that the Ingenuity Helicopter spent the first night on its own successfully. Now the team will prepare for the first flight.

Just like the Ingenuity Helicopter, our Mars Rover Replica also doesn’t carry any science instruments either, but our Mars Rover Replica will have all the scientific instruments’ appearance structures. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary]. 

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Ingenuity Helicopter Prepares for Test Flight

Since the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover landed on Mars, the Ingenuity Helicopter has been preparing for flying. On March 21st, 2021, after dropping the debris shield, which covered and protected Ingenuity all the way till landing, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s Ingenuity Helicopter is ready to take its first test drive.

Our 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica will also have the debris shield and users can remove it remotely. The appearance structure of the Perseverance Mars Rover Replica‘s debris shield will perfectly replate the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s debris shield and have the same appearance structure.

The Martian air density is only 1% of Earth’s, and the gravity is about 30% of Earth’s. Moreover, during the night, the temperature can go extremely low. With limited sun, or solar power, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s Ingenuity Helicopter has to keep warming up itself to ensure the structure and all the electrical components won’t be frozen. Therefore, keeping Ingenuity sufficiently charged and warm alone is not an easy task, letting it fly is even more difficult. This is also the reason that this time, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s Ingenuity Helicopter does not have an actual goal or any science instruments, because its only mission is to be able to fly.

For our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica and the Ingenuity replica, because they will be on Earth, we don’t need to worry about keeping them warm, but we might need to worry about getting a ventilation system for when warm weathers come.

It will take about 6 sols (or more if needed) for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s Ingenuity Helicopter to deploy. Because the Ingenuity was initially attached at the bottom of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and placed upside down, it needs to be slowly rotated to the vertical position, which will take around 3 sol, if not more. Eventually, Ingenuity’s 4 legs should be standing steadily on the floor, the 6 batteries should be sufficiently charged and the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover should be about 5 meters (16 feet away) so that Ingenuity can get enough solar power. Our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica and the Ingenuity replica won’t use solar power, and they will be using rechargeable batteries or an external power supply.

During the test flight, Ingenuity will need to run its rotors at 2,537 RPM, fly up for 3 seconds to a height of 3 meters, and stay in the air for 30 seconds. After Ingenuity lands, videos of how it performs will be sent back to Earth so that the team will know if everything is working normally. Our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica‘s Ingenuity will also be able to fly, but how much height it can climb is still to be determined. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Sounds of the Wheels

On March 7, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover drove for 90 feet (27.3 meters). The EDL microphone recorded the sounds of the driving for a whole 16 minutes and the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover sent it back to Earth. Our 1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica will also have the EDL microphone and it will be a real microphone so that the user can record sound. The Mars Rover Replica’s EDL microphone will have the same appearance strcuture of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s EDL microphone.

Unlike a normal vehicle, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover does not have inflatable tires. Instead, the tires are metal, alluminum alloy. Most of us probably wouldn’t know what it is like to be in a vehicle that has metal wheels. The metal rolling against the ground, dust and rocks will generate annoying noise, and the ride will be much bumppier. As expected, you can hear from the video the metal clanking sound, wheel scratching sound, and the motor sound. It is not a pleasant sound but it is exciting to hear just because it is from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover on Mars. Our Peseverance Mars Rover Replica perfectly replicates the appearance structure of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s wheels, steering motors and driving motors. So users can expect to hear the same sound as he or she controls the rover to drive with the remote. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

This audio was recorded by the EDL microphone, which was not expected to surrive the landing but it did. Therefore, it was a surprise we receive the audio of the driving from it. However, since the EDL microphone was off the shell and was not designed to do scientific analysis, when the team hears unusual noise, it presents some difficulty to figure what that anomoly is. Some guess it is electromagnetic interference.

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s First Test Drive

On the 4th of March, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover performed its first test drive for around 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) and everything turned out to be operational perfectly.

Since the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s landing on Mars, the system has been running tests for every component to check if everything survived the bumpy landing to make the mission can go on as planned. This short test showed that the mobility of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover was as good as new. Lasted for 33 minute-long, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s 6.5-meter long drive was not a straight line. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover firstly drove forward for 4 meters (13 feet) and checked that the 6 driving motors, among other import parts and operational perfectly. Then the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover turned 150° to the left and drove backward for another 2.5 meters (8 feet) – the steering motors and other relevant parts were checked out.
With our 1:2 Peseverance Mars Rover Replica, you can remotely control it to move. The Rover Replica’s wheels will have the same suspension system theory and use the same types and same numbers of gear motors. The Perseverance Mars Rover Replica will be a perfect replica of the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover.

During the testing process, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s NavCams and HazCams to take photos, and these photos were sent back to Earth. That is how scientists knew everything was alright. The cameras on the Perseverance Mars Rover Replica will also be able to film the driving process as the user is controlling it. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

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Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover News

Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover’s Laser Sound from SuperCam

Other than the two acoustic recordings of Mars wind, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover also sent back audio of the SuperCam’s laser shots during an operation when the SuperCam is firing at rocks on March 2nd, 2021, or the 12th sol. The SuperCam is located on the top of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s mast. With our 1:2 Peseverance Mars Rover Replica, you can also remotely control the SuperCam and fire its laser light at whatever targets the user wants.

You can hear from the audio there are 29 laser impacts, but actually, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s SuperCam fired 30 shots. If you listen very carefully, the loudness of every impact is different, and it is from the difference of the intensity of the impacts, scientists can learn valuable information from it.

Although our Perseverance Mars Rover Replica’s SuperCam replica does not actually fire laser shots at the target, nor can it cause any damage, the appearance structure of the Mars Rover Replica’s SuperCam replica will be the same as the real Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Since now, thanks to the precious audio from the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, we can make the same sound effects so the user can simulate the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s operation just like it’s real. If you are interested in our Mars Rover Replica, please check [1:2 Perseverance Mars Rover Replica Design and Building Diary].

This audio was taken when the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover‘s SuperCam is 10 feet (3.1 meters) from the target. With proper software and tools, also with the scientists’ skills and experiences, we can learn the physical structure of the rocks and then learn of information such as how the rock was formed and if there ever were organics inside.