How did they charge the Mars Ingenuity helicopter?
Batteries do not charge in cold weather...
“Mars' atmosphere is over 100 times thinner than Earth's.” Source
How would a helicopter generate lift in such a sparse atmosphere?
Extreme Cold
“The atmosphere of Mars is colder than Earth’s owing to the larger distance from the Sun, receiving less solar energy and has a lower effective temperature, which is about 210 K (−63 °C; −82 °F).[2] The average surface emission temperature of Mars is just 215 K (−58 °C; −73 °F), which is comparable to inland Antarctica.” Source
Tesla Disaster As Cars Won't Charge in Chicago’s Freezing Cold Source
You may be surprised to learn that the Ingenuity’s energy source is built from six off the shelf 18650 lithium ion cells from Sony, the VTC4. This cell has been around for several years - I found a data sheet from 2012 while researching for this article. Given the general high power and low energy specifications of the VTC4, it has probably been used in power tools here on earth. Furthermore, it comes as little surprise that the team at the JPL went for something “tried, tested, and true” for a mission critical component. One of the most interesting things about Ingenuity is that the helicopter will be completely self-reliant for its own energy production, storage, and management as soon as Perseverance drops it onto the Martian surface. Source
Maybe they used the same CGI company?
Oh, and India did not land on the moon.
It was such a great moment, I was watching “Capricorn One” with my daughter, maybe 12 at the time. A chill came over us and the room as she figured out that .gov was going to clean up the mess and kill all the witnesses. I love that she figured it out. Run, OJ, run.
Missed this one, but better late than never, I guess.
Indeed, how did they charge the batteries? I guess the picture is merely an "artist's rendition", but I assume it's "anatomically correct". And I guess the rectangle with the antenna visible above it, is a solar panel. It's a little 'better' than the "Luna Landa" - at least, it looks professionally Heath Robinsoned - but really?
That solar panel is tiny, and its position is absurd. No doubt, it's just another gullibility test. I mean, it's going to be extremely difficult to generate sufficient lift in that vacuous atmosphere anyway, but what about the aerodynamics - of a solar panel obstructing the gas flow?
Not to mention the very limited solar input, far less than 1kW/m2 or so available on Earth. And, Solar Panels also don't like to work in (very) cold conditions.
Then there's all the other issues. The antenna signal must pass up the dual rotor shafts somehow. I guess concentric hollow shafts, but the solar panel output also has to pass inside the mast. All unnecessarily complicated and impractical, and no doubt, heavy. Why not mount solar panels on the legs, so they fold to vertical in flight? Coff. And what's with the "odd" foot? To emphasis the three club feet? They would easily get caught between rocks and debris, but anyone fancy golfing on Mars? Should get plenty of 'air'.
Next, there's the totally non-aerodynamic shape of the "body" - a flat-topped square box.
Let's not question the knee joints on the legs. A bird is far better designed. The legs (and their knees) should be completely underneath and as far out of the high-speed gas flow as possible. Pigs are vastly more streamlined, and certainly, fly better.
As for the horns on the lower rotor. WTF? Baby Baphomet?