NASA is preparing for the first helicopter flight test on Mars

by

The US space agency’s explorer, Perseverance, arrived on Mars on February 18 with important equipment.

NASA’s Perseverance was carrying an experimental aircraft called Ingenuity, which will have its first test flight this week. NASA hopes to make the helicopter the first vehicle to fly on a planet other than Earth.

NASA recently announced that the spacecraft had been safely reduced to the surface of Mars from its storage space under Perseverance. The explorer, or rover, then moved away from about five feet of wit. The rover and the planes communicate through radios.

After separating from the rover, the helicopter faced its first major test on Mars, protecting itself from the icy temperatures of the planet. Instrument readings on Perseverance in early April showed that low temperatures in the landing zone, called Jezero Crater, had reached less than 83 degrees Celsius.

This illustration shows Jezero Crater, the landing site of the Mars 2020 rover Perseverance, as it may have looked like billions of years ago on Mars, when it was a lake. An entrance and exit are also visible on both sides of the lake. (Image credit: NASA / JPL)

This illustration shows Jezero Crater, the landing site of the Mars 2020 rover Perseverance, as it may have looked like billions of years ago on Mars, when it was a lake. An entrance and exit are also visible on both sides of the lake. (Image credit: NASA / JPL)

In a statement, NASA said the ingenuity passed the test surviving its first night alone with the extreme cold. The helicopter used its own solar energy battery operate a heater to protect your electrical equipment from damage.

The space agency praised the success as “one of the main ones fit”For the experimental aircraft.

MiMi Aung is the leader of the Ingenuity project in NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory. He said that while his team went out of their way to prepare the helicopter, the group was very excited to see the results of their work on Mars.

“We now have the confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters and enough energy in the battery to survive the cold night, which is a great victory for the team, “said Aung.” We are delighted to continue preparing Ingenuity for its first flight test. ” .

In this December 17, 2019 file photo made available to NASA, engineers control a test drive of the Mars Perseverance rover in a clean room of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California (J. Krohn / NASA via AP, File)

In this December 17, 2019 file photo made available to NASA, engineers control a test drive of the Mars Perseverance rover in a clean room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California (J. Krohn / NASA via AP, File)

The following set of tests includes aircraft engines and rotor equipment. The helicopter will be the first aircraft to attempt a controlled, motorized flight to another planet.

NASA has compared Ingenuity’s attempt with the first flight of a Wright Brothers motorized plane near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. In recognition of this historic flight, a small piece of cloth covering a wing from the Wright brothers’ plane was attached to the helicopter for its first flight to Mars.

The main purpose of the Perseverance rover is to look for signs of microbians life of the ancient past of the planet. The explorer is expected to collect materials from the rock and surface soil. They will be sent to Earth for a future mission a Mart.

During its first test, Ingenuity will try to rise to about three meters from the surface. It will try to move briefly towards the extremely fine atmosphere of the planet. Then the plane will try to turn around and complete a smooth landing.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter can be seen here with all four legs spread before falling from the belly of the Perseverance rover on March 30, 2021, the 39th Martian day, or sun, of the mission. (Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter can be seen here with all four legs spread before falling from the belly of the Perseverance rover on March 30, 2021, the 39th Martian day, or sun, of the mission. (Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS)

If the first flight is successful, other tests will be carried out, with the ingenuity trying to go a little higher and farther. NASA says these helicopters could help astronauts on future search and pickup missions.

NASA has recently released images of Perseverance and Wit. The space agency described one of the images as a “selfie.” He showed the rover and helicopter sitting on the rocky surface of Mars.

The rover was able to capture the selfie with its robotic arm, which has a camera connected at the end. NASA said the image was made from 62 individual images that came together once they were sent to Earth.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for learning English, based on reports from NASA, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Mario Ritter, Jr. he was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section and visit our Facebook page.

Contest: NASA is preparing for the first helicopter flight test on Mars

Contest: NASA is preparing for the first helicopter flight test on Mars

Start the contest to find out

___________________________________________________________

Words in this story

battery – n. a device that is placed inside a machine to supply it with electricity

fit – n. an important point in the progress or development of something

insulation – n. a material used to prevent heat, cold, sound, or electricity from escaping or entering

rotor – n. a part of a rotating machine, especially the device that supports the rotating blades of a helicopter

microbians – adj. related to microbes (very small living things)

mission – n. the flight of a spaceship to perform a task or job

.Source