Close
Search
Menu Menu

Historic ‘Ingenuity’ flight on Mars could change planetary exploration

By
London, UK
2 energy + Add Energy
What is energy?
Want to show your appreciation? Give an article “Energy” and it will help us know what you like.
0 comments
0 comments

This week, NASA’s Mars helicopter ‘Ingenuity’ performed the first ever flight on another world. Could this historic demonstration mark the start of a whole new mode of planetary travel?

Is there a prouder moment than seeing your child break out of their bicycle stabilisers and roam free? Many an employee at NASA experienced that feeling for the first time on Monday (April 19th), as Ingenuity nailed its debut flight test.

Engineers at the space agency kickstarted the week with a historic announcement. At 3:30am (12:30pm Mars time), the mini helicopter that once clung to the undercarriage of the Mars rover Perseverance took to the skies for the first time.

The super engineered four-pound machine spun its twin motor blades and elevated itself 10 feet above the red surface autonomously, hovering for 39 seconds and performing a pivot manoeuvre before safety descending again.

For those initially picturing a mazy flight over the stretching dunes and mountains of Mars, unfortunately we aren’t quite there yet.

Nevertheless, the debut test was celebrated momentously by engineers in an operating room 173 million miles away and rightly so, with all recognising this small success could have game changing ramifications for planetary exploration forever.

With flight tests delayed several times due to software and pre-flight glitches, everything came together on Monday and the triumph was lauded as another Wright brothers moment.

NASA’s victory has now opened conversations about the immense potential of rotary aircraft among space researchers, stirring the notion that the new mode could soon take the lead from traditional rovers when it comes to exploring other planets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4czjS9h4Fpg&ab_channel=NASA

While Perseverance remains key to answering our immediate questions about the ancient history of Mars, and the probability of human colonisation on it some day (click here for more details) NASA is now keen to up the stakes with Ingenuity’s testing to see if the helicopter may contribute to the mission.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Director Michael Watkins claimed Ingenuity’s flight unlocked ‘the third dimension’ of travel on other worlds. ‘It freed us from the surface forever in planetary exploration,’ he told reporters in a press conference.

Upon completing its ascension from the launchpad – initially mapped out by Perseverance – Ingenuity captured a sequence of black and white images showing the ground below. More excitingly though, the rover at a safe distance (211 feet away) recorded a time lapse of coloured images showing the helicopter in motion for the first time.

Today, as NASA’s rover trickles across the landscape towards the Jezero Crater in search of microfossils, engineers are keen to get Ingenuity off its landing skids once again.

Currently in the process of examining data from the first flight and drawing up parameters for more daring tests in both altitude and speed, NASA is already dotting upcoming dates on its calendar – the next flight being on April 22nd. You know what drone enthusiasts are like?

As Ingenuity’s project manager MiMi Aung declared to Mission Control moments after confirmation, ‘This is just the first great flight.’ Let’s hope the rest go as smoothly.

Senior Writer London, UK

I’m Jamie (He/Him), the Deputy Editor and a Senior Writer at Thred. Keeping up with social media updates and revolutionary technology is my forte, but when away from my keyboard, you’ll probably find me wrapped around a large Tango ice blast at the latest mediocre horror flick. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Popular

Keep up with thred by signing up to our planet-positive newsletter!

More from thred.

First solar-powered vinyl record press built in US
Credit: Thred
Technology

First solar-powered vinyl record press built in US

Dave Newell, a Florida-based musician and avid record collector, has, alongside environmentalist wife Betsy Bemis, created the first solar-powered vinyl record press in the US. They call it ‘Audiodrome’. The first sustainable vinyl record press has opened in the US for Earth Day, and it has nowt to do with Billie Eilish, Chris Martin, or any other outspoken eco-conscious artist. Dave Newell, a humble musician and record collector hailing from Gainesville,...

By London, UK
Touchless tech is a huge gaming accessibility upgrade
Credit: BBC
Gaming

Touchless tech is a huge gaming accessibility upgrade

Accessibility to games for disabled people used to require expensive specialist equipment. Now, sophisticated – and free – applications like MotionInput are helping to make the hobby more equitable. Picking up a controller or a mouse is second nature to the majority of game enthusiasts, but there is a large community that sadly don’t have that option. In the UK, 66% of gamers with a disability or condition say they...

By London, UK
Science confirms touch alleviates anxiety amid spiking levels globally
Credit: Unsplash
Science

Science confirms touch alleviates anxiety amid spiking levels globally

As the world grapples with a mental health crisis post-pandemic and in light of findings that record numbers of people are now suffering from anxiety, scientists have been looking for new ways to treat the condition. According to a recent study, hugs are one such solution. The world is grappling with a mental health crisis. In Europe, antidepressant consumption has more than doubled in the...

By London, UK
Creating deepfake porn is about to become illegal
Credit: Thred
News

Creating deepfake porn is about to become illegal

A new law will serve to protect the overwhelming majority of UK-based women who believe deepfake technology poses a serious threat to their safety. As the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) advance, people everywhere have raised concerns about how this technology will impact job security, education, and our everyday lives. Women, however, have become overwhelmingly concerned about how AI-generated content could impact their safety. A survey conducted by Glamour in collaboration with...

By London, UK
Accessibility