This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56799755

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Nasa successfully flies small helicopter on Mars Nasa successfully flies small helicopter on Mars
(31 minutes later)
Moment Nasa reacts to successful Ingenuity flightMoment Nasa reacts to successful Ingenuity flight
The American space agency has successfully flown a small helicopter on Mars.The American space agency has successfully flown a small helicopter on Mars.
The drone, called Ingenuity, was airborne for less than a minute, but Nasa is celebrating what represents the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another world.The drone, called Ingenuity, was airborne for less than a minute, but Nasa is celebrating what represents the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another world.
Confirmation came via a satellite at Mars which relayed the chopper's data back to Earth.Confirmation came via a satellite at Mars which relayed the chopper's data back to Earth.
The space agency is promising more adventurous flights in the days ahead.The space agency is promising more adventurous flights in the days ahead.
The rotocraft was carried to Mars in the belly of Nasa's Perseverance Rover, which touched down in Jezero Crater on the Red Planet in February.
Ingenuity will be commanded to fly higher and further as engineers seek to test the limits of the technology.Ingenuity will be commanded to fly higher and further as engineers seek to test the limits of the technology.
"We can now say that human beings have flown a rotorcraft on another planet," said a delighted MiMi Aung, project manager for Ingenuity at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. The rotorcraft was carried to Mars in the belly of Nasa's Perseverance Rover, which touched down in Jezero Crater on the Red Planet in February.
"We've been talking for so long about our 'Wright Brothers moment' on Mars, and here it is."
This is a reference to Wilbur and Orville Wright who conducted the first powered, controlled aircraft flight here on Earth in 1903.
Ingenuity Mars helicopter set for historic flightIngenuity Mars helicopter set for historic flight
Nasa shows dramatic video of Mars rover's landingNasa shows dramatic video of Mars rover's landing
Will Nasa's next rover discover life on Mars?Will Nasa's next rover discover life on Mars?
The chopper took this image of its own shadow on the ground "We can now say that human beings have flown a rotorcraft on another planet," said a delighted MiMi Aung, project manager for Ingenuity at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.
"We've been talking for so long about our 'Wright Brothers moment' on Mars, and here it is."
This is a reference to Wilbur and Orville Wright who conducted the first powered, controlled aircraft flight here on Earth in 1903.
Ingenuity even carries a small swatch of fabric from one of the wings of Flyer 1, the aircraft that made that historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, more than 117 years ago.Ingenuity even carries a small swatch of fabric from one of the wings of Flyer 1, the aircraft that made that historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, more than 117 years ago.
The chopper took this image of its own shadow on the ground
There were cheers in the JPL control centre as the first photos of the flight arrived back on Earth. In the background, MiMi Aung could be heard saying: "It's real!"There were cheers in the JPL control centre as the first photos of the flight arrived back on Earth. In the background, MiMi Aung could be heard saying: "It's real!"
To claps from her colleagues, she tore up her contingency speech - to have been used in the event that the attempt had not worked. To claps from her colleagues, she tore up the contingency speech to have been used in the event of failure.
The demonstration saw the Mars-copter rise to about 3m, hover, swivel and then land. In all, it managed almost 40 seconds of flight, from take-off to landing.The demonstration saw the Mars-copter rise to about 3m, hover, swivel and then land. In all, it managed almost 40 seconds of flight, from take-off to landing.
Getting airborne on the Red Planet is not easy. The atmosphere is very thin, just 1% of the density here at Earth. This gives the blades on a rotorcraft very little to bite into to gain lift.Getting airborne on the Red Planet is not easy. The atmosphere is very thin, just 1% of the density here at Earth. This gives the blades on a rotorcraft very little to bite into to gain lift.
There's help from the lower gravity at Mars, but still - it takes a lot of work to get up off the ground.There's help from the lower gravity at Mars, but still - it takes a lot of work to get up off the ground.
How this Nasa helicopter made history on MarsHow this Nasa helicopter made history on Mars
Ingenuity was therefore made extremely light and given the power to turn those blades extremely fast - at over 2,500 revolutions per minute for this particular flight.Ingenuity was therefore made extremely light and given the power to turn those blades extremely fast - at over 2,500 revolutions per minute for this particular flight.
Control was autonomous. The distance to Mars - currently just under 300 million km - means radio signals take minutes to traverse the intervening space. Flying by joystick is simply out of the question.Control was autonomous. The distance to Mars - currently just under 300 million km - means radio signals take minutes to traverse the intervening space. Flying by joystick is simply out of the question.
Ingenuity has two cameras onboard. A black-and-white camera that points down to the ground, which is used for navigation, and a high-resolution colour camera that looks out to the horizon.Ingenuity has two cameras onboard. A black-and-white camera that points down to the ground, which is used for navigation, and a high-resolution colour camera that looks out to the horizon.
A sample navigation image sent back to Earth revealed the helicopter's shadow as it came back in to land. Satellites will send back more pictures over the next day. There was only sufficient bandwidth in the first overflight to return a short snatch of video from Perseverance, which was watching and snapping away from a distance of 65m. Longer sequences from the rover's video should be available in due course.A sample navigation image sent back to Earth revealed the helicopter's shadow as it came back in to land. Satellites will send back more pictures over the next day. There was only sufficient bandwidth in the first overflight to return a short snatch of video from Perseverance, which was watching and snapping away from a distance of 65m. Longer sequences from the rover's video should be available in due course.
A selfie of the Ingenuity helicopter and the Perseverance roverA selfie of the Ingenuity helicopter and the Perseverance rover
Nasa has announced that the "airstrip" in Jezero where Perseverance dropped off Ingenuity for its demonstration will henceforth be known as the "Wright Brothers Field".Nasa has announced that the "airstrip" in Jezero where Perseverance dropped off Ingenuity for its demonstration will henceforth be known as the "Wright Brothers Field".
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - the United Nations' civil aviation agency - has also presented the Nasa and the US Federal Aviation Administration with an official ICAO designator: IGY, call-sign INGENUITY.The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - the United Nations' civil aviation agency - has also presented the Nasa and the US Federal Aviation Administration with an official ICAO designator: IGY, call-sign INGENUITY.
A successful maiden outing means that a further four flights will be attempted over the coming days, each one taking the helicopter further afield.A successful maiden outing means that a further four flights will be attempted over the coming days, each one taking the helicopter further afield.
The hope is this initial demonstration could eventually transform how we explore some distant worlds.The hope is this initial demonstration could eventually transform how we explore some distant worlds.
Drones might be used to scout ahead for future rovers, and even astronauts once they eventually get to Mars.Drones might be used to scout ahead for future rovers, and even astronauts once they eventually get to Mars.
"It's really taking a tool that we haven't been able to use before and putting it in the box of tools that is available for all of our missions going forward at Mars. So for me, it's really exciting personally and for the community overall it opens up new doors," said Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of science at Nasa.
"We will be able to explore areas that we cannot use a rover. Some of these crater walls, for example, are so exciting; scientists have been writing papers about them."
Nasa has already approved a helicopter mission to Titan, the big moon of Saturn. Dragonfly, as the mission is known, should arrive at Titan in the mid-2030s.Nasa has already approved a helicopter mission to Titan, the big moon of Saturn. Dragonfly, as the mission is known, should arrive at Titan in the mid-2030s.