The first interplanetary helicopter has stopped flying. | Shutterstock

December 12, 2024

It’s hard to imagine crashing a flying object when literally nothing else is around ... on a deserted planet. But it seems we managed to do it. 

Engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and AeroVironment are finishing up an investigation into why Ingenuity, an autonomous helicopter that operated on Mars between 2021 and 2024, crashed on Jan. 18 and effectively ended its operation on our sister planet. It has been concluded that the most likely scenario was the navigation system not being able to precisely locate its height because of the planet’s featureless terrain. As the helicopter descended from about 40 feet, it was unable to determine its distance from the ground and slammed into the surface, breaking one of its rotors. 

Ingenuity continues to send back weather updates, but as far as serving as a demonstration test piece for future rovers, I would say it accomplished that mission. 

Now, this RTO Insider news just crashed into this email.

From everyone at RTO Insider, thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day! Also, be sure to check out our latest news from NetZero Insider below! 

Shawn McFarland 

The latest from RTO Insider:

• Parties Lobby FERC for Preferred Paths Forward on Co-location
  
• Puget Sound Energy Signs on with North Plains Connector
  

The latest from NetZero Insider:

• GE Vernova, ExxonMobil Address Data Center Demand with Gas
  

The latest from ERO Insider:

• NERC Standards Committee Preparing to Welcome New Members
  

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Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

• 12/12/24: MISO Board of Directors (BOD) – Open Session
• 12/12/24: NYISO Operating Committee Meeting
• 12/17/24: NEPOOL Reliability Committee Meeting
• 12/17/24: NYISO Budget & Priorities Working Group Meeting
• 12/17/24: PJM Risk Management Committee Meeting
• 12/18/24: ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
• 12/18/24: PJM Markets and Reliability Committee Meeting
• 12/18/24: PJM Members Committee Meeting
• 12/19/24: NEPOOL Transmission Committee Meeting
• 12/19/24: FERC Meeting
• 12/20/24: SPP Markets+ State Committee Meeting
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• 1/6/25: NYISO Transmission Planning Advisory Subcommittee and Electric System Planning Working Group Meeting
• 1/7/25: PJM Planning Committee Meeting
• 1/7/25: NYISO Installed Capacity/Market Issues/Price-Responsive Load Working Groups Meeting
• 1/7/25: PJM Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee Meeting
• 1/8/25: New York State Reliability Council Installed Capacity Subcommittee Meeting
• 1/8/25: PJM Market Implementation Committee Meeting
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COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

RioSol Capacity Allocation

On January 6, 2025, El Rio Sol Transmission, LLC (“RioSol”) will commence an open solicitation process to award up to 1,600 MW of bi-directional, point-to-point, firm transmission capacity.  RioSol is holding this open solicitation process pursuant to its FERC authorization issued in Docket No. ER24-1726-000, dated July 5, 2024.

The RioSol Transmission Project consists of a proposed single-circuit, 500 kV alternating current electric transmission line and several substations that will transport energy from Arizona and New Mexico to customers and markets across the Desert Southwest.  RioSol is seeking parties that can meet our criteria and work with us to enable the transmission project to commence construction by the end of 2026 and commence operating by the end of 2028.  More information about the project can be found at www.riosol.energy.

RioSol has engaged Energy Strategies to manage the open solicitation process.  Specific information about the forthcoming open solicitation process and timing can be found at www.riosol-os.com.  On 12/18/2024, RioSol will host a webinar to review the project and Open Solicitation process and to answer questions from prospective customers.  To sign up for the webinar, email RioSol-OS@energystrat.com. 

Starting on January 6, 2025, interested entities may obtain a request for participation form and a confidentiality agreement via www.riosol-os.com and submit them to RioSol-OS@energystrat.com.  Subsequently, interested entities deemed to have a legitimate interest in obtaining transmission capacity on RioSol will be provided with a confidential information memorandum and the expression of interest form.  Completed expression of interest forms will be due no later than February 7, 2025.

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