NASA is working on arguably the most ambitious space mission since Apollo. The space agency, which conducts various research on Mars, continues to search for the remains of life on the red planet. NASA, which sent a helicopter to Mars by signing a first during this mission, is preparing to send new aircraft.
NASA is sending two more helicopters to Mars
NASA is performing various flights on Mars with its Mars helicopter Ingenuity. The vehicle, which collects various data from the air with these flights, is also the first aircraft that can be controlled remotely in space. On the other hand, Perseverance continues to collect various samples on the surface of Mars.
Scientists plan to conduct important studies with the samples and data collected by vehicles serving on Mars. However, it seems that NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) aim to add new ones to these vehicles. In line with this goal, two more helicopters will be sent to Mars.
Although vehicles have collected various samples, the transport of these samples to Earth is of great importance. For this, Earth Return Orbiter and Sample Retrieval Lander spacecrafts will be sent to Mars in 2027 and 2028.
Initially, two rovers were planned to land on the Martian surface and retrieve samples from Perseverance. However, upon the success of Ingenuity, NASA decided to purchase samples from Perseverance with two helicopters, one of which was a backup. In this way, it is reported that the transportation will be faster.
There’s also the possibility that Perseverance may still be operational when the vehicle, sent by NASA to return samples to Mars, lands. In this case, Perseverance can load samples directly into the vehicle that will return to Earth.
Of course, we have to wait a few more years to see all this. So what do you think about NASA’s mission to Mars? You can share your views with us in the comments section.
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