NASA’s Mars helicopter Vernuf really kicked up dust during his historic first flight on the Red Planet, which took place on Monday (April 19).
The helper’s larger companion, the Perseverance rover, noticed the cloud of rusty dust generated by the fast-turning blades, especially during takeoff and landing, according to a tweet released Wednesday (April 21) by the mission’s report has been published.
“Dust in the wind … on Mars. These enhanced videos side by side at @ NASAPersevere’s Mastcam-Z reveal #MarsHelicopter plumes on takeoff and landing,” the tweet reads. “It helps us better understand the Martian wind and how dust moves through the atmosphere of the Red Planet.”
Related: Mars helicopter Ingenuity makes historic 1st powered flight to another world
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Ingenuity’s first flight lasted a total of about 40 seconds, and the helicopter spent a little less than 30 seconds hovering above the surface of the Red Planet. The small chopper must rotate its blades at about 2400 rpm to lift itself into the thin atmosphere of Mars – hence all the dust it kicks up.
With a successful first flight, the Ingenuity team is preparing for four more species levels over the patch of the Red Planet now called Wright Brothers Field.
During these flights, the perseverance car on the size of the car will stay out of sight, watching its little companion. But because Ingenuity is only a technological demonstration, the team only has a month for its flights before the Perseverance rover has to focus on its most important geology and astrobiology mission.
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