Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Sets Flight Record

In the past weeks, NASA shared the first images from its new satellite called GOES-18, which was launched into orbit in March. Announcing that they had found a spacecraft debris on Mars at the beginning of May, the authorities took these images with the Mars helicopter named Ingenuity, which was sent to Mars at the beginning of last year.

Sharing new information about Ingenuity, the authorities announced that the vehicle broke a ‘record’ today. This record, which sounds funny by world standards, was actually a pretty big step for Mars.

flew 700 meters in one go

Ingenuity could not normally go more than a few meters at a time, officials said. The main reason for this was the sandstorms and adverse ‘weather conditions’ on Mars. However, according to the statement, this small Mars helicopter traveled 2,310 feet, or 704 meters, in one go on its flight on May 27. NASA researchers were surprised that the vehicle traveling at 19 KM/S on the surface of the red planet went to such a long distance.

Powered by 6 solar-powered lithium-ion batteries, Ingenuity is capable of operating for 30 Mars days, that is, approximately 2550 days (7 years). The vehicle, which has made a total of 28 flights so far, is expected to make its 29th flight in the coming days.

While Ingenuity conducts reconnaissance missions on the Martian surface, another Mars vehicle, Perseverance, examines rocks, craters and potential sources on the planet’s surface and conducts research for the possibility of life on Mars.