Ingenuity performs its first flight

Ingenuity performs its first flight

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Space 

In news

• NASA announced that Ingenuity had performed its first flight.

Key takeaways 

• Ingenuity is the first helicopter to fly on Mars. 
• It was carried by NASA’s rover called Perseverance that was launched in July 2020. 
• Ingenuity is able to fly using counter-rotating blades that spin at about 2,400 rpm. 
• It has a wireless communication system, and is equipped with computers, navigation sensors, and two cameras. 
• It is solar-powered, able to charge on its own.
• Taking to the air would give scientists a new perspective on a region’s geology and even allow them to peer into areas that are too steep or slippery to send a rover. 
• NASA will try and demonstrate rotorcraft flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars with this helicopter. 

Do you know?

• Perseverance will help collect samples from the surface from locations where the rover cannot reach.
• It landed at the Jezero Crater of Mars in February. 
• It will remain on Mars for about two years and look for finding past signs of life.
• The rover is designed to study signs of ancient life, collect samples that might be sent back to Earth during future missions and test new technology that might benefit future robotic and human missions to the planet.