68 was an out and back test flight (according to the plan). The flight log shows it was 702 meters (shorter than planned) Those 2 images were acquired at the end of the flight, they actually show the 4 footprints in the regolith), so it’s clear that they returned to the take off location at airfield Chi. We’ve not had any further images since those 2 from 68 arrived, I’m assuming that the communication between the helicopter and the rover was reduced by the terrain after the rover’s recent drives on sols 1002, 1004 & 1006. Hopefully there are a bunch more images still on the rover waiting downlink, but we’ll probably have to wait until the rover climbs to a good spot and / or reduces the 980.5 meters to the helicopter.
68 was an out and back test flight (according to the plan). The flight log shows it was 702 meters (shorter than planned) Those 2 images were acquired at the end of the flight, they actually show the 4 footprints in the regolith), so it’s clear that they returned to the take off location at airfield Chi. We’ve not had any further images since those 2 from 68 arrived, I’m assuming that the communication between the helicopter and the rover was reduced by the terrain after the rover’s recent drives on sols 1002, 1004 & 1006. Hopefully there are a bunch more images still on the rover waiting downlink, but we’ll probably have to wait until the rover climbs to a good spot and / or reduces the 980.5 meters to the helicopter.
Thanks Paul. I always appreciate your in-depth explanations.