Mars Helicopter launches its first flight by April 8th

NASA has announced plans to conduct a local test flight of the Mars helicopter Ingenuity by April 8.

As of March 23, Ingenuity is still deployed on Mars exploration rover Perserverance and is moving to a flatland of 10m within the crater of Jejeongro. When the person reaches the destination, it lowers the ingenuity and leaves the place. Next, Ingenuity deploys its own solar panel, charges the battery, and prepares for its first flight on Mars.

The flight test is scheduled to be completed on the 31st. On the first test flight, it floats to 3 m above the planet’s surface and runs for 30 seconds. The flight is scheduled for about 5 times, and during the flight, about 30 images of the ground are taken from the air above and then the flight path and ground conditions are analyzed later.

As the pre-launch rehearsal was conducted in a laboratory or in a chamber with lowered pressure, the first test flight is the first outdoor flight for Ingenuity. Not only that, it is also the first unmanned helicopter to fly outside of Earth.

Since Mars’ gravity is only 40% of the Earth’s, it is easier for gases to rise. However, Mars’ atmosphere density is only one 80th of Earth’s, and lift is seldom generated even when the rotor is rotated. The temperature problem is also added to this. For example, the temperature at night is expected to drop to -90 degrees below zero. This is not the temperature at which ordinary electronic devices can operate properly.

The establishment of flying technology on Mars may lead to a leap forward in future exploration on Mars. Related information can be found here.