April 19 NASA announced that the first unmanned helicopter on Mars, the Ingenuity helicopter, will make its first flight on April 19. Foreign media believe that the “smart” helicopter’s first flight significance is no less than the Wright brothers first test flight of man-made aircraft on Earth, will bring a new way for mankind to explore the universe “sharp instrument.”
“NASA expects to hold the first unmanned helicopter flight to Mars no earlier than April 19, about 3:30 AEST, ” the source said. Data about the helicopter’s first flight will be sent back to Earth a few hours after the flight.
According to previous reports, the first flight of the “smart” helicopter has been postponed several times.
The flight is reported to be a real challenge because the air on Mars is very thin – less than one percent of the earth’s atmospheric pressure. This means that in order to fly, Mars helicopter rotors must rotate much faster than helicopters on Earth.
NASA said the “unprecedented” helicopter operation was dangerous, but said it could get valuable data on conditions on Mars.
The Smart helicopter successfully landed on the surface of Mars in February this year aboard the Perseverance rover. Under NASA’s plan, the rover will monitor the helicopter’s flight and send back images and data.
