Lauren O’Neill

On July 30, 2020 NASA launched Perseverance, a rover, to Mars. Perseverance landed on February 18, 2021. Attached to this rover was the first helicopter, Ingenuity, to land on Mars. This mission aimed at discovering any signs of life and collecting rock and soil samples for further examination.

So far the reports from the helicopter and the rover sent back positive feedback, and exceptional images of the Red planet. The helicopter is secured underneath the rover and it weighs only four pounds, as compared to the rover, which is the size of an SUV. Ingenuity successfully sent data through NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter which is the mode of contact between Mars and Earth.

One of the concerns about the helicopter is whether it will be able to withstand the cold climate at night on Mars, but it was designed with a battery system that heats the helicopter up. Temperatures on Mars can reach as low as negative 130 degrees Fahrenheit and making sure Ingenuity has full battery life will be crucial to its survival.

Scientists have planned a series of test flights for the helicopter, the first one being only 20 seconds of leaving the ground. The helicopter will not attempt to take flight until at least one or two months when Perseverance finds a flat location. This expedition is technologically groundbreaking, especially because Perseverance cameras will take pictures in color, while previous rovers captured black and white images.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ingenuity Project Manager, MiMi Aung, said, “We are in uncharted territory, but this team is used to that.” The team realizes this mission will not be easy, but they are prepared for the challenge.