The first Martian helicopter Ingenuity prepares for its first flight to Mars. On the official NASA page on the Twitter social network, a video has been published showing how Ingenuity is “stretching its wings.”
Warming up the rotor blades was one of the last tests before the upcoming takeoff. The rotation speed was 50 rpm. During real flight, the blades will rotate noticeably faster. NASA will conduct another surface test to more closely simulate the 2,400 rpm rotation speed before the helicopter takes off.
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With just a little bit of swing, the #MarsHelicopter has moved its blades & spun to 50 rpm in preparation for first flight! Takeoff is slated for April 11, with confirmation expected overnight into April 12 for us Earthlings. https://t.co/TNCdXWcKWE pic.twitter.com/EpDZymjP13
– NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) April 9, 2021
The helicopter was delivered to Mars, attached to the bottom of the Perseverance rover. Ingenuity’s main focus is to demonstrate technology and test the first flights to Mars. The $ 85 million helicopter is a very small structure weighing 1.8 kg. It is solar-powered and has a battery to power the heater during the harsh Martian nights.
Ingenuity’s first flight is just days away – it is scheduled for April 11th. Information about the results of the flight will arrive on Earth on April 12. If the first flight is successful, Ingenuity will make a series of longer flights over Jezero Crater, where Perseverance landed on February 18, 2021.
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