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Something to look forward to: NASA’s latest explorer rover is expected to make contact with the surface of Mars next month, February 18. This is an important step for the space agency, and not just because of the rover itself: its cargo is just as important. The Perseverance rover carries the very first “Mars helicopter”, popularly known as Ingenuity.
Ingenuity is a small, lightweight helicopter with two rotors, each made of durable carbon fiber. The rotors will spin in opposite directions, at speeds “around 2,400 rpm,” which is “several times” faster than what you would see on any passenger helicopter on Earth.
So why are these speeds necessary and why is ingenuity so light? According to NASA, the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars is to blame. With much less usable air than Earth, any flying vehicle attempting to fly on the Red Planet would need much faster rotors to generate enough lift to take off.
If the mission is successful, it could revolutionize the way scientists approach Mars exploration. Until now, they’ve had to rely on slow-rolling ground rovers to navigate, but if Ingenuity proves capable of withstanding Mars’ harsh environment, the technology could become much more mainstream. Maybe a more refined design could be done at a later date?
We wish the engineers at NASA, and Ingenuity itself, the best in their efforts. Whether it lands and takes off successfully or not, you can be sure we’ll cover Ingenuity’s landing here, so stay tuned on February 18.
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