An artist concept of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter flying.
NASA / JPL-Caltech
It looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see a helicopter fly on Mars. NASA decides to push back the Ingenuity Mars helicopterThe first experimental flight was due to a safety warning during a high-speed turn test by Ingenuity’s rotors, the space agency said on Saturday. The flight, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, will now take place “no earlier than April 14”, a Wednesday, the space agency said in a statement. But the copter is “safe and sound,” NASA said.
“During a rotor test, ‘NASA ended the test-controlled command series early due to a’ watchdog ‘timer,” NASA said in a status update. “This happened while trying to switch the flight computer from ‘Flight’ to ‘Flight’.”
The agency added that the watchdog timer ‘oversees the command sequence and alerts the system of possible problems. It helps the system stay safe by not continuing if a problem is detected. ‘
Look at this:
How NASA’s Mars helicopter the future of …
5:20
The space agency said the Ingenuity team is diagnosing the problem and will reschedule the rotor test based on its findings. NASA earlier said Ingenuity’s flight date could change if engineers make adjustments and undergo pre-flight checks.
When Ingenuity finally flies, it’s the first time humans have reached powered, controlled flight on another planet. The experimental copter, carried to Mars by NASA’s Perseverance Rover, can open up a whole new way to explore other worlds.