NASA is planning to drop a helicopter on the Mars surface to test fly vehicles on Mars atmosphere. Already NASA had tested a Rover on the Mar's surface. For the first time in Space history, an attempt to take off a powered helicopter on another planet which is going to revolutionize space research will be attempted.
The 1.8 kg (4 lbs) helicopter, Ingenuity, will be placed in the rover's belly. After a few months of travel, the Ingenuity Helicopter will attempt for its first flight on Mars. After touching the Martian surface, Ingenuity will start automatically and initiate flight. It has very thin feather-like two Composite Twin propeller blades.
The first mission of the helicopter is to rise up 10 feet on the planet atmosphere and will fly forward up to 6 feet in the air. The challenging task in this mission is the Mars Gravitational force that is 62% lower than the Earth and has severe cold conditions. So, the Helicopter engines need to perform correctly on that temperature and weight of the helicopter needs to be balanced perfectly.
NASA has already tested an enormous number of flights on a chamber that has a Martian atmospheric condition. The helicopter performs all operations autonomously. If the first flight succeeds, then NASA will do four more Flight test within 30 Martian days(31 Earth days).
The helicopter has lastest landing technology and uses advanced camera and microphones used to get clear pictures and audio.
NASA Mars's 2020 mission rover launch is going to be held on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rover will reach Martian surface on February 2021. The project manager said, "it's really a Wright Brothers Moment".
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