The Mars helicopter Ingenuity has unlocked its two rotor blades while preparations for the first flight of the vehicle continue, which would not take place earlier than Sunday (April 11).
Ingenuity arrived with NASA on 18 February Perseveranceafter making the long journey to the Red Planet in the belly of the Rover. With effect from 4 April, the small helicopter separated from perseverance and prepared to take to the air during a month-long test campaign. If Ingenuity’s Sunday outing is successful, it’s going to be the first car flight to another planet.
“The blades of glory, or rotor blades of the #MarsHelicopter, have been unlocked and are ready for testing,” said NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. written in a tweet posted early today (April 8). “Next, for the first time on the Mars surface, we will be doing the blades at a slow speed.”
Related: These selfies of NASA’s Mars helicopter and the Perseverance Rover are just amazing
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Ingenuity’s flight preparation process was slow and careful, in part because the 4-lb. (1.8 kilograms) helicopter undertook the journey in a folded configuration to Mars under a protective shield.
After the shooter dropped the shield and drove to the airport, the helicopter staff had to order the device unpack and unfold slowly. Then Perseverance Ingenuity had to place directly on the Mars surface and drive away so that the helicopter’s solar panels could support the aircraft.
Unlocking and testing the blades of Ingenuity are the last important milestones before the helicopter tries to fly. NASA officials said they would first test the blades at 50 and then at 2,400 rpm before attempting to fly the helicopter.
While Ingenuity makes its flight preparations, Perseverance looks at the scenery and continues to settle on the Red Planet. The car-sized rover took photos of his own tire tracks and his sophisticated scientific arm, among other things.
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