News
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter survives a blackout on Mars
NASA has reestablished contact with its Ingenuity helicopter on Mars.
The team’s chief engineer, Travis Brown, explained that radio contact was lost for six Martian sols — just under six days and six hours — after Ingenuity’s 49th flight.
According to the expert, disconnection was not initially a serious problem. The helicopter switched into and out of night survival mode, which made it difficult to contact daily from the 685th sol and communication interruption for a day or two did not bother the team. However, after the Perseverance rover went to a more favorable place for communication, the Ingenuity helicopter could not be found, which already worried the mission team.
Brown emphasized:
In more than 700 sols of helicopter operation on Mars, we have never experienced a complete radio outage. Even in the worst conditions, we have always seen signs of activity.
However, with the advent of sol 761 and the next day, the team received a response from the helicopter, and then “disappeared from the line” again. The mission team realized that the problems were due to the ridge separating the rover and helicopter, and Perseverance moved to the next location to fix them.
However, for the safety of the rover’s movements through the narrow channels of the dry river delta in Lake Crater, it is imperative that Ingenuity fly ahead and conduct checks. The team from Earth was able to upload the flight plan to Ingenuity. Brown said:
It would be an understatement to say that the helicopter crew was relieved to see the successful telemetry of the 763 Martian day link flight the next morning.
Software
Microsoft has released a major Windows 11 update for all users – installation optional
Microsoft has made a major update to the Windows 11 operating system, also known as Moment 5, available to all users as an optional update KB5035942.
Users can optionally install KB5035942 through Windows Update. Previously, the company allowed enthusiasts to manually activate new features from an update. Moment 5 is now available to everyone directly from Windows Update.
Windows 11 Moment 5 brings quite a lot of innovations. Among them are an improved Copilot AI assistant function with new plugins and skills, improved “Photos” with a smart “eraser”, an improved Clipchamp video editor (possibly removing “awkward pauses”), closer integration with Android smartphones (can now be used in as a webcam), and much more.
News
Space meteorologists predicted a new geomagnetic storm: the Sun is approaching maximum activity
Space meteorologists have issued a forecast for this week warning of a possible geomagnetic storm caused by the release of plasma from a solar flare. This could affect radio transmissions on Earth and contribute to the observation of the “northern lights.”
According to an alert issued March 23 by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, the public has no reason to be concerned.
Mainly, solar storms can disrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as communications between aircraft and remote towers. Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center, noted that many commercial aircraft can use satellite communications as a backup option.
Satellite operators may also have problems tracking their spacecraft, and the power grid may detect induced current in its lines.
“For the general public in high latitudes, with clear skies, this will be a great opportunity to see the ‘northern lights,'” Lash said.
Every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic field changes and its north and south poles switch places. During this cycle, solar activity also changes and is now approaching its peak, which is called solar maximum.
During solar maximum, geomagnetic storms like the one observed last Sunday can occur on Earth several times a year, according to Lash. During periods of solar minimum, several years may pass between storms.
Last December, the largest solar flare in recent years disrupted radio communications.
Car News
BYD cuts prices on 100 models to beat Toyota and Volkswagen
BYD is going to beat Toyota and Volkswagen by offering modern cars at very low prices. According to Bloomberg, the Chinese automaker has reduced prices on more than 100 of its electric and hybrid models.
For example, BYD’s new generation-changing Seagull hatchback now costs less than $10,000, while the manufacturer’s best-selling electric sedan, the Qin Plus, costs less than $11,000.
BYD announced the beginning of an era called “electricity is cheaper than oil”, when hybrid and pure electric models become as affordable as traditional models with internal combustion engines, or even cheaper.
In total, BYD has already relaunched more than 70 models with lower prices. According to Bloomberg, only the newest Yangwang supercar worth 233 thousand dollars has not fallen in price so far.
By lowering prices, BYD wants to convince drivers to ditch gasoline cars and switch to electric vehicles and hybrids. This aggressive pricing policy poses a real threat to Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and other manufacturers.
Previously, BYD Auto officially announced the production of its 7 millionth new energy vehicle, which turned out to be the Denza N7.
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