[Mike Tango]

Fourth flight didn't happen yesterday for technical reasons. There's an open news conference/briefing later today, 1630hrs UK time, about plans for the remaining flight campaign. Via the various social media platforms, if you have a question you can ask it...

NASA Sets Briefing to Discuss Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Next Steps

[Mike Tango]

Flight five is planned for later today. If all goes well it will be Ingenuity's first short x-country and land away...

Why Ingenuity’s Fifth Flight Will Be Different

[Paul_Sengupta]

For a completely different mission...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57122914

China has successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, state media announced early on Saturday.

The six-wheeled Zhurong robot was targeting Utopia Planitia, a vast terrain in the planet's northern hemisphere.

The vehicle used a combination of a protective capsule, a parachute and a rocket platform to make the descent.

The successful touchdown is a remarkable achievement, given the difficult nature of the task.

Only the Americans have really mastered landing on Mars until now. All other countries that have tried have either crashed or lost contact soon after reaching the surface.

[TopCat]

The successful touchdown is a remarkable achievement, given the difficult nature of the task.

Only the Americans have really mastered landing on Mars until now. All other countries that have tried have either crashed or lost contact soon after reaching the surface.[/i]

Not that I'm a remotely cynical type, but given this Chinese success, I do wonder about NASA's cyber security.

[Paul_Sengupta]

There is something remarkably similar about the method of deployment, but then if it's known to work then why not?

[johnm]

Much of the strategic approach used by the Americans is in the public domain. The Chinese, Russians, Israelis and North Koreans are the top hackers and might have been able to get some of the code used, but NSA, GCHQ and the Israelis are the top cyber defence players, so who knows?

[Dave W]

...but NASA, GCHQ and the Israelis are the top cyber defence players...

NSA, not NASA, surely?

[johnm]

NSA, not NASA, surely?

Yup, finger trouble NASA has been hacked, though only in less sensitive areas AFAIK, and NSA advises them....

[Mike Tango]

Aerial shot of Mars from flight six a few days ago, part of landing gear at top left…

[townleyc]

Colourful landscape I see

KE

[Crash one]

Trying to figure out what the delta wing aircraft is at the bottom of the ridge

[RisePilot]

Much of the strategic approach used by the Americans is in the public domain. The Chinese, Russians, Israelis and North Koreans are the top hackers and might have been able to get some of the code used, but NSA, GCHQ and the Israelis are the top cyber defence players, so who knows?

I wouldn't be so confident/warm with that notion that the good guys always have the best tools. This phrase re cyber attacks:

"Right now, there are things that we can do to other countries, that if they could do the same to us, we couldn't defend ourselves."

I won't note when/where this was said, but the person (and his level) made it quite disconcerting.

[Mike Tango]

Mars: Nasa's Perseverance rover's first 100 days in pictures

[Paul_Sengupta]

Interesting video about the helicopter flights.

[kanga]

"Chinese tourists take selfies everywhere" stereotype reinforced

But impressive

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57441757