The Ingenuity helicopter made aviation history on Mars.
NASA / JPL-Caltech
This story is part of Welcome to Mars, our series exploring the red planet.
NASA made “the first controlled flight, controlled on another planet,” on Monday, when it took place The ingenious helicopter rose from the surface of Mars. Now that history is made, NASA wants to tell us all about it.
NASA has set an ingenious post-flight briefing for 11 a.m. today, when the helicopter team will share the latest information on the realization of aviation that took place on the red planet.
The small rotor plane took off to Mars under the belly of the Perseverance rover, which left it on the surface to fend for himself. two cars posed for a picturesque image together. The rover acted as a witness to Ingenuity’s flight.
The flight attempt was postponed from the initial date of April 11 NASA time to update the car software after a rotor rotation test it ended too early. Subsequently, the helicopter successfully completed a rapid rotation test, an important step that paved the way for takeoff.
The agency broadcast live the Ingenuity efforts on NASA TV early Monday. It wasn’t like watching a sporting event with live footage, but the NASA helicopter team celebrated after the good news was broadcast from Mars. You can catch the replay here:
“The rover will provide support during flight operations, taking images, collecting environmental data and hosting the base station that allows the helicopter to communicate with mission controllers on Earth,” NASA said in a statement in early April.
NASA stressed that ingenuity is a demonstration of high-risk technology and reward. It now officially offers the reward. NASA has set the planned test flight period to last up to 31 days on Earth, and more flights could be scheduled soon. The agency is currently looking at a second test flight on April 22.
There is a lucky talisman along the way. Ingenuity has a small piece of the famous Wright Flyer attached to it, drawing a direct line between the realization of the history of aviation on both Earth and Mars.
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