NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter: A Technological Marvel
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter is a technological marvel that has captured the imagination of people around the world. This post is an overview of the spacecraft. A graphic of NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter flying over Mars Design and Specifications The Ingenuity helicopter is a small, lightweight aircraft that weighs only 1.8 kilograms and is equipped with two rotors that spin in opposite directions. Powered Flight on Mars The Ingenuity helicopter has completed 71 flights since first taking to the skies above the Red Planet on April 19, 2021 , far exceeding its originally planned technology demonstration of up to five flights. Achievements on Mars The many highlights of Ingenuity’s historic and successful activities on Mars include: The first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet, a feat that’s been called a “Wright Brothers moment”. Completing 128.3 flying minutes, covering 10.5 miles (17.0 km), and reaching altitudes as high as 78.7 ft (24....