NASA Mars helicopter makes historic ex-earth flight-CBC
NASA
CBC-NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter makes historic 1st flight on Mars
Tiny solar-powered copter paves way for a fleet of Martian drones for transport and scouting
NASA’s experimental Mars helicopter rose from the planet’s dusty red surface into the thin air Monday, achieving the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.
The triumph was hailed as a Wright brothers moment. The mini 1.8-kilogram copter named Ingenuity, in fact, carried a bit of wing fabric from the 1903 Wright Flyer, which made similar history at Kitty Hawk, N.C.
“We can now say that human beings have flown a rotorcraft on another planet,” project manager MiMi Aung announced to her team.
Flight controllers in California confirmed Ingenuity’s brief hop after receiving data via the Perseverance rover, which stood watch more than 65 metres away. Ingenuity hitched a ride to Mars on Perseverance, clinging to the rover’s belly upon their arrival in an ancient river delta in February.
Apr 19, 2021