Photos: Mars helicopter set to take its maiden flight on the Red Planet
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Percy and Ingenuity
Percy and Ingenuity
In February, the Perseverance rover landed on Mars with a small dual-rotor helicopter named Ingenuity strapped to its belly. On Tuesday, NASA said it was targeting “no earlier than April 8” for the chopper’s first flight attempt, which it described as “the first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet.” In this gallery, we’ve highlighted some of the best photos of the Martian helicopter ahead of Ingenuity’s pioneering maiden flight attempt on the Red Planet.
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Perseverance rover
Perseverance rover
Perseverance’s WATSON camera snapped this photo of the rover’s underbelly showing the detached debris shield and the stowed Martian helicopter.
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Ingenuity up close
Ingenuity up close
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Maiden Martian voyage
Maiden Martian voyage
Illustrations showing Ingenuity airborne on Mars.
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Action area
Action area
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this photo of the Martian surface. The added map shows the rover landing site, helicopter flight zone and the airfield.
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Mars helicopter flight model
Mars helicopter flight model
In this photo, a mission team member attaches thermal film to a Mars Helicopter flight model.
SEE: Everything you need to know about Perseverance and the mission (TechRepublic)
Perseverance rover
Perseverance rover
The Mars helicopter weighs just under four pounds and is strapped to the Perseverance rover’s underside.
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Strapped in
Strapped in
This photo shows the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover being positioned inside the aeroshell. This structure protected the rover during launch and transport to the Red Planet.
SEE: TechRepublic Premium editorial calendar: IT policies, checklists, toolkits, and research for download (TechRepublic Premium)
Launch prep
Launch prep
The backshell and cruise stage containing the Mars 2020 Perseverance.
SEE: TechRepublic Premium editorial calendar: IT policies, checklists, toolkits, and research for download (TechRepublic Premium)
