NASA reported that the Ingenuity mini helicopter flight attempt on Mars should take place in the first week of April, the drone is in the belly of the Perseverance rover that arrived at the red planet on February 18.
The helicopter is a showcase of technology and its mission is to prove whether powered flight on Mars is possible. The NASA drone will make a quick 20-30 second flight and then land.
However, before the flight, the helicopter must be released from the rover and this action must be done with caution, as Ingenuity will undergo a small drop to the ground.
Since it was launched in July 2020, with the Perseverance, studies are being carried out to observe the behavior of the helicopter, they are:
- Surviving from cruising to Mars and landing on the Red Planet;
- Safely deploying to the surface from the belly of the Perseverance rover;
- Staying warm autonomously on the bitterly cold nights of Mars
- Carrying itself autonomously with its solar ;
- Successfully communicate to and from the helicopter via the Mars Helicopter Base Station on the rover;
The prediction is that there will be more than one Ingenuity flight, however, it will only be possible if everything works out on the first attempt.
After the test flights, if successful, the data will help in future manned missions to Mars to help astronauts in cave analysis, mapping areas, transporting light loads, among other actions.
