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NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, nicknamed “Ginny,” has achieved a major milestone by successfully flying in the alien atmosphere of Mars. Designed by Dr. J Bob Balaram, an Indian citizen currently working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the 1.8 kg chopper is part of NASA’s Perseverance rover mission. This groundbreaking achievement marks the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Ingenuity is a marvel of technology, constructed with ultra-lightweight carbon fiber and standing at just half a meter tall. The density of the Martian atmosphere is about one-hundredth of Earth’s at sea level, posing a significant challenge for flight. To overcome this, Ingenuity’s blades rotate at speeds of 2400 to 2900 rpm – approximately ten times faster than any helicopter on Earth.

The helicopter was deployed to the surface of Mars on April 3, 2021, after reaching the planet as a stowaway aboard the Perseverance rover. Over the course of its technology demonstration, Ingenuity has completed three successful flights. Its first flight on April 19 saw it take off, hover in the air briefly, complete a turn, and land, reaching an altitude of about 3 meters. This historic event marks the first controlled flight in the extremely thin Martian atmosphere and a significant milestone for space exploration.

Following its initial flight, Ingenuity has continued to perform additional experimental flights at greater distances and altitudes. So far, it has completed 64 flights in the thin Martian atmosphere. Dr. Balaram compares this achievement to the “Wright Brothers moment” on another planet. He attributes his success to his hands-on training at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and hopes to inspire Indian students to pursue careers in space exploration.

In related news, next year, a joint space initiative between India and the US will see the launch of the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite. This collaboration highlights the strengthening partnership in space exploration between the two countries.

Sources: NASA, Indian Institute of Technology Madras

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