A WRIGHT BROTHERSMOMENT ONMARS


Te first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet, the Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is actually an autonomous drone (but, we have to admit, “Mars Helicopter” sounds better). Launched from Earth on Jul. 30, 2020, the 4-lb. aircraft made its historic maiden voyage on Apr. 29, 2021. As of press time, the Mars Helicopter’s logbook had recorded 71 flights, a total distance of 11 miles flown, and a combined flight time


of about 128 minutes. As a proof of concept for flight


operations on Mars, “the Ingenuity technology demonstration has been a resounding success,” says Tomas Zurbuchen, former associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Te aircraft now flies to demonstrate how aerial scouting and other functions could benefit future exploration of Mars and other worlds.


NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS


ROTOR 121


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