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First Flight on Another Planet!

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The Mars Helicopter aims to make the first powered flight on another planet when it takes off on Mars as part of the Mars 2020 mission.

I learned a lot getting to visit the drone right before it was mounted on the rover.

How do you fly in 1% of Earth’s atmosphere:
Have large rotors (they are 1.2m in diameter) and spin them very fast, around 2500 RPM (5x the speed of a helicopter on Earth).

Plus the aircraft has to be light:
The Mars helicopter weighs in at 1.8kg or around the same as a laptop. Every piece had to be stripped down for weight. Instead of using aerogel for insulation, the craft makes use of CO2 gaps between components. Even aerogel was too heavy!

One of the major challenges is surviving the Martian night:
Temperatures plunge to -80C to -100C so two thirds of the craft’s power is actually used to keep its electronics warm. Only one third is used for flying. The estimated flight time is 90 seconds.

The craft can’t be driven remotely, it will have to fly autonomously, using its own sensor suite to determine how to fly. The round trip 20 minute delay with Earth means steering the craft from mission control would be impossible.

What is the significance of the Mars helicopter, Ingenuity’s, first flight on another planet?

For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the mysteries of outer space. We have constantly searched for ways to reach beyond our planet and explore the unknown. Recently, we reached another milestone in space exploration when the Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, successfully completed its first flight on another planet.

Ingenuity was launched with NASA’s Perseverance rover from Earth in July 2020 and landed on Mars in February 2021. It was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of powered flight on another planet, where the atmosphere is thin and the gravity is only about one-third of Earth’s.

The first flight of Ingenuity took place on April 19, 2021, in the Jezero Crater of Mars. It lasted for about 40 seconds, during which the helicopter hovered about three meters above the Martian surface and then landed again. The flight was a huge success, marking the first time humans have flown an aircraft on another planet.

Ingenuity is a small helicopter, weighing around 1.8 kilograms and measuring about 1.2 meters across. It has four carbon fiber blades, each about 1.2 meters long, that rotate in opposite directions. The blades spin at a speed of about 2,400 revolutions per minute, which is about eight times faster than a helicopter’s blades on Earth.

Ingenuity’s flight was a significant achievement for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrated the ability to fly on another planet, which could pave the way for future aerial exploration missions. Secondly, it proved that engineers could design a lightweight and powerful aircraft that could operate in the harsh Martian environment. Thirdly, it showcased the innovation and dedication of the NASA team behind the mission.

Ingenuity’s successful flight has opened up new possibilities for exploring other planets and moons in our solar system. Flying over the surface allows for more detailed and precise exploration of the terrain, which is not possible with ground-based vehicles. It also reduces the risk of getting stuck in difficult terrain or damaged by rocks.

In conclusion, the first flight of Ingenuity on another planet is a historic moment in space exploration. It has demonstrated the feasibility of powered flight on Mars and opened up a new frontier for exploration. The success of this mission is a testament to the ingenuity, perseverance, and determination of the NASA team and a remarkable achievement for humanity.