A new rotor for the vehicle was recently tested at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, spinning at near-supersonic speeds.
NASA's Mars Ingenuity helicopter has exceeded its original 30-day mission by completing 66 flights over Mars.
The success of Ingenuity has prompted NASA to develop more advanced designs for future missions.
NASA's Mars Ingenuity helicopter has been making strides in the field of interplanetary aviation, exceeding its original 30-day mission by completing 66 flights over the Martian surface. The success of Ingenuity has prompted NASA to develop more advanced designs for future missions, including the upcoming Mars Sample Return mission which may utilize a fleet of helicopters.
The Ingenuity helicopter, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), began its service on Mars as a technology demonstration in 2021. Since then, it has been testing how flying around and scouting from the air could aid future exploration of Mars and other planets. The tests on Mars have resulted in faster and higher metrics, 25% slower landing speeds, and invaluable data for future Mars helicopters.
In addition to the success on Mars, NASA has been testing next-generation Mars helicopters on Earth. A new rotor for the vehicle was recently tested at JPL in Southern California, spinning at near-supersonic speeds. These updated carbon fiber rotor blades are longer and more robust, and have been tested in JPL's space simulator, spinning up to 3,500 rpm.
Engineers are also pushing Ingenuity's limits, setting new altitude and speed records. Future plans include high-speed flights with special pitch and roll angles for performance measurement. These advancements are not only pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Martian aviation, but also providing invaluable data for the development of future interplanetary aircraft.
NASA has been adjusting the instructions sent to the craft before each flight, allowing it to 'see' more of the landscape below it and avoid confusion caused by the ground racing by it.
The tests on Mars have resulted in faster and higher metrics, 25% slower landing speeds, and invaluable data for future Mars helicopters.
The success of Ingenuity, which has exceeded its expected lifespan and completed 66 flights over Mars, has prompted NASA to develop more advanced designs for future missions.
The upcoming Mars Sample Return mission may use a fleet of helicopters.
A new rotor for the vehicle was recently tested at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, spinning at near-supersonic speeds.
The Ingenuity helicopter, developed by JPL, started service on Mars as a technology demonstration in 2021 and is now testing how flying around and scouting from the air could aid future exploration of Mars and other planets.