NASA Helicopter Ingenuity. Photo: BBC/NASA dock
jpnn.com, JAKARTA – The Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ingenuity Helicopter will make a historic flight over Mars today.
If successful, this helicopter will make history as the first powered aircraft to take off from a planet other than Earth.
“The Wright brothers made the first flight on earth. Ingenuity is ready to be the first flight for Mars,” said Ingenuity project leader MiMi Aung, quoted by ABC News on Monday (19/4).
The helicopter was supposed to make its maiden flight last week but was delayed after a last-minute software glitch.
After further testing over the weekend, Aung said NASA was optimistic the Ingenuity helicopter would take off this afternoon.
“We’re doing everything we can to make it a success,” continued Aung.
The plan is for Ingenuity to rise three meters above its launch pad, then hover for about 30 seconds, and return to the surface of Mars. This whole process will take about 40 seconds.
“We want the first flight to be a safe flight,” said Aung. (mcr9 / jpnn)
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