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Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): NASA, on Monday, made aviation history after successfully launching the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, making it the first aircraft to fly on another planet.
The mini helicopter began its flight approximately at 3:45 p.m IST and the data was received at NASA headquarters around 4.25 p.m IST. It took off a few feet from the ground, hovered in the air for about 20 to 30 seconds, and landed.
The area where Ingenuity made its first flight will now be known as the Wright Brothers Field in tribute to the pioneers of the first powered flight on Earth.
Ingenuity was scheduled to undertake its first flight on April 11, however, it was delayed due to a problem in the software with its command sequence.
NASA's historic feat proves that flight on Mars is possible. It is remarkable that the flight was a huge success considering that the gravity on Mars is about a third of the Earth. Mars' atmosphere is also very thin and therefore, the basic rules of flight would also be different from Earth.
The data gathered from Ingenuity's test flights will undoubtedly help in the design of aircraft for future explorations of the Red Planet. Ingenuity's second test flight is expected to be on April 22.
“The Mars Helicopter project has gone from ‘blue sky’ feasibility study to workable engineering concept to achieving the first flight on another world in a little over six years,” said Michael Watkins, director of JPL.
“That this project has achieved such a historic first is testimony to the innovation and doggedness of our team here at JPL, as well as at NASA’s Langley and Ames Research Centers, and our industry partners. It’s a shining example of the kind of technology push that thrives at JPL and fits well with NASA’s exploration goals,” Watkins added.
Disclaimer: The above article has been edited by Eastern Mirror and taken from syndicated news feeds.