NASA helicopter makes third flight on Mars

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently announced that the Ingenuity helicopter has completed its third flight successfully.

Third Flight of Ingenuity Helicopter

• According to NASA, in its third flight, the Ingenuity helicopter flew faster and farther.
• In its third flight, the helicopter rose to five metres. This is the same altitude as that of its second flight.
• It rose at a top speed of 2 metres per second.
• The helicopter travelled fifty metres in its third flight.

Challenge

The Martian Atmosphere is filled with Carbon Dioxide. This is the biggest challenge for the Ingenuity Helicopter.

Mars 2020 mission

• It is part of Mars Exploration Programme of NASA.
• It includes Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter.
• The main objective of Perseverance rover is to investigate Astro-biologically relevant ancient environment in mars. Astro-Biology was formerly known as exobiology. It is an interdisciplinary scientific field that is concerned with the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.

Mars Exploration Programme

It was launched in 1993 to explore the possibilities of life on mars. In 2013, the US Government cut 40% of NASA’s budget. This delayed the projects under the programme. The main objectives of the programme are as follows:

• To determine if life ever existed in Mars
• To characterise the Climate of Mars
• To characterise the geology of Mars
• To prepare for human exploration of mars

Recent Developments of the mission

• The Perseverance rover of Mars 2020 carried the MOXIE and Ingenuity Helicopter.
• The Perseverance rover of the Mars 2020 mission dropped the Ingenuity helicopter in the Martian surface.
• The Ingenuity Helicopter became the first aircraft to fly in another planet.
• The Ingenuity Helicopter makes historic flight.
• The MOXIE in the Perseverance Rover makes history by converting carbon dioxide in to oxygen.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2021