NASA Will Try To Fly a Helicopter on Mars

• 
  via DW

  As the exploration of Mars ramps up with better technology becoming available, February 18 will mark the next step in exploring other worlds: NASA will attempt to fly their specially built helicopter, Ingenuity, on another planet. Thus far, all exploration on Mars has been on land. 

  Scientists don't know if flying in space will be possible or not, as there are a few technicalities to consider: 

  • the air density on Mars is one percent of Earth's, meaning it will be equivalent to taking off at 100,000 feet 
  • Mars has one third of Earth's gravity
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  via Smithsonian Mag

  With a Martian atmosphere in mind, NASA's scientists built the four pound helicopter to be completely autonomous. This is because the signal to reach Earth can take at least to five minutes, which could be enough time to destroy the $2.5 billion mission. Ingenuity set off on July 30 2020, strapped to the Perseverance Rover. If the six month, 92.5-million-mile journey goes well, Ingenuity will land on Mars tomorrow. 

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  via Tech News Vision

  The possibility of flight in space opens up a new world of possibility for exploring other planets. Often, there are obstacles on the ground that land rovers aren't able to pass by (like huge lava tubes). Exploring Mars by helicopter, and eventually drone, will allow us to see Mars in a whole new way. But we can't get too excited yet, as the possibility of flying on planets other than Earth could be impossible. 

• 
  via Scientific American

  Let's cross our fingers that Ingenuity makes it safely to Mars and proves to humans that flight is possible on Mars. If it is, we'll be seeing a lot more awesome footage of Mars soon. 

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