“Ingenuity”, NASA’s helicopter is getting ready for the launch to the Red Planet. It’s really amazing, isn’t it? Ingenuity is about 19 inches tall which is being packed carefully onto the Perseverance Rover. MARS 2020 Mission is no doubt an ingenious one. The helicopter was named by Vaneeza Rupani, a 17-year-old student of Indian origin. MiMi Aung is the Project Manager of Mars Helicopter at NASA. She describes that Ingenuity can’t be compared to any other helicopter ever built. It is the first attempt of power controlled flight at Mars. The scientists had to figure out how to transport and safely land Ingenuity from the Perseverance rover.
Facts about Ingenuity:
1) Ingenuity is the first attempt of powered flight on other planet.
2) It is built to be light (1.8 kilograms) and strong.
3) Even in thin Mars atmosphere (1% less than Earth’s density), Ingenuity is strong enough for take-off.
4) It can fly for 90 seconds with a distance of 980 feet and 10-15 feet from ground.
5) Without anyone’s control it can fly on its own.
6) It consists of Sensors, Batteries, Cameras, Avionics (helps in navigation and function). Besides it has outer parts like Ultra-thin legs (Carbon fibre tubes), Blade, Antennas, Solar panel.
Landing on the Red Planet :
The landing of Perseverance Rover on Mars is expected to be on 18 February 2021 and Ingenuity will be placed for action after two months. At first, the rover and helicopter will be checking for potential airfields. These airfields must be 10 by 10-meter patch of Martian land. The patch should be a plane, hindrance free and viewed by Perseverance when it is parked away from Ingenuity. Then the rover will drop the Graphite Composite Debris Shield which protects Ingenuity during landing. Finally, the rover will drive to chosen airfield.
The landing action will begin according to the satisfactory condition for the flight after 6 days. With the firing of a pyrotechnic device, the spring-loaded arm will start to rotate Ingenuity out of its horizontal position. Next, it is to bring the helicopter body vertical. For that, an electric motor starts pulling the arm till it locks up with the release of two legs. With another firing, the other two legs are also released. The command of Mission controllers initiates the release of Ingenuity fixed in the belly of Perseverance. Then the rover will drive away and thereby enabling the helicopter to recharge the battery using its solar panel. A 30 sol (Mars solar day) clock flight test program will begin with the recharge.
Mars 2020 Mission :
The Mars Helicopter Delivery System was provided by Lockheed Martin Space. The helicopter was built, managed by JPL and a division of Caltech in Pasadena. NASA’s Launch Services Program takes care of launch management. This mission leads other missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for the human quest of the Red Planet. The rover has a weight of about 1,025 Kilograms. The aim of launching the rover is to examine the geology of Jazero Crater landing site (north of Mars equator). Also it characterizes the geology and climate of the planet. Microbial life on Mars in the past can be explained through the Astrobiology mission.
The rover will collect samples of rocks and Regolith (broken rock and dust) on the Martian surface. These samples will help in the exploration of the Red Planet better. Also, it will test how the astronauts on future Mars missions can produce Oxygen from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Later the above-produced Oxygen can be used for fuel and breathing purposes.
Launch- A Journey to Mars
On 30 July 2020, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the two-stage Atlas V-541 will be launched. It is expected to land on 18 February 2021. Lori Glaze, the Director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division said that the mission had one launch, 314 million miles of interplanetary space and 7 minutes of terror to get safely onto the surface of Mars. Also for appreciating the medical team, the scientists had fixed an Aluminium plate (3 by 5 inch) on Perseverance. It represents that Earth is being supported by the medical team during Covid-19 crisis.
Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return.
-Leonardo da Vinci
The sample collection at Mars is a monumental moment. If this mission accomplishes, it will be a triumph for mankind. Let Ingenuity bring a ray of hope to us in this pandemic and look forward for the boundless explorations to be done in future.
Ref: NASA , AmericaSpace,VideoFromSpace, Carol Meier Voice Over
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