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It has been more than one century the first powered flight was sent from Earth and now NASA has the will to prove it is possible to copy the same on another planet. The helicopter is transported abroad. The name given Mars 2020 spacecraft arrives at mars- the red planet on Thursday. The helicopter is a small ingenuity one. It is expected to overcomes several challenges that come across the way. There are various challenges that the spacecraft need to face out of that is the rarefied Martian atmosphere. This atmosphere is expected to be of one percent density when compared to that of the Earth’s.
Ultra light
The spacecraft might be given the name of a helicopter but it looks more closer to a mini-drone. We can clearly see the similarities of the of the spacecraft along with the drones that we are habituated in seeing in recent times.
The weight of the spacecraft is 1.8 kilograms which is equals to four pounds. The blades are much larger than a usual drone and it has the ability to spin 2,400 revolution every minute which is almost five times faster. This ability of spinning is much advanced than it would be required to lift back on the Earth.
The spacecraft has also the ability to get assistance from the Red Planet, and the gravity there is only one third when compared to Earth- our home planet.
The spacecraft- Ingenuity has a body like a box, four feet, blades made of carbon-fiber which have the arrangement of two rotors spinning in the bang opposite directions. It also has two cameras, navigation sensors and computers.
Seven minutes of terror
The spacecraft is equipped with solar cells that has the ability to recharge its batteries. Much of the energy of the spacecraft is used to stay warn because Martian nights are generally cold. The temperature of the Martian night fall to -130 degrees Fahrenheit which is equal to 90 degrees Celsius.
The mars helicopter Ingenuity can also jerk a ride on the belly of the Perseverance rover. This will help the helicopter to drop on to the ground once the landing is complete then drive away.
90 second flights
The helicopter also has planned to overcome gradual difficulty up to five flights, in a span of one month, within the initial few months of the mission. Ingenuity will be able to fly at 10-15 feet or 3-5 meters altitudes and also travel 160 feet which is 50 meters from the starting area and back.
Each flight of Ingenuity will be lasting for one and a half minute which is what achieved by 12 seconds of the Wright Brothers in 1903. Ingenuity is designed to fly autonomously as it is very far from Earth that can be operated by using a joystick. The onboard computers of Ingenuity will work with the help of sensors and cameras thus keeping it on the way that the engineers have set.
Goal of Ingenuity
The mission of Ingenuity is described as “technology demonstration” by NASA. This means it is a project that helps to test the new capability together along with the mission of Preservance rover. If it turns out to be successful, it will help to open an entire new dimension to explore the Red Planet- Mars, according to Bob Balaram, the chief engineer of Ingenuity.
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