Garmin sports Tech on Mars – Seriously!
I’d missed this story from last month.
Garmin’s Z82 range finder is used in golf to accurately measure distances to hazards and the pin. That same Garmin tech is in the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter which recently launched a couple of times as a key part of the Mars 2020 Mission.
It’s not quite the same as Elon Musk getting mankind back to the moon (maybe) but I guess Garmin has got their tech further away from Earth than Mr Musk has so far managed.
Garmin was part of the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. The LIDAR system found in the Approach Z82 Golf Laser Range Finder & other Garmin products was used to measure the distance from the #MarsHelicopter to the surface of Mars. We’re Martians now! pic.twitter.com/M8a6sgapdn
— Garmin (@Garmin) April 19, 2021
https://youtu.be/kb96kb_Nfxk
Last Updated on 25 January 2026 by the5krunner
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.
We aren’t in Kansas any more… Brilliant! I knew Garmin had a lot of money, but to hire NASA to fly to Mars for a marketing promo, he-he?! WHOOP with its influencer campaign has some serious step-up to do!