NASA's Mars Helicopter to make first flight attempt on Sunday
ANI |
Updated: Apr 10, 2021 06:45 IST
Washington [US], April 10 (ANI): NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is two days away from making humanity's first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. If all proceeds as planned, the 4-pound (1.8-kg) rotorcraft is expected to take off from Mars' Jezero Crater on Sunday at 12:30 pm local Mars solar time, hovering 10 feet (3 meters) above the surface for up to 30 seconds.
Mission control specialists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California expect to receive the first data from the first flight attempt the following morning at around 4:15 a.m. EDT (1:15 a.m. PDT). NASA TV will air live coverage of the team as they receive the data, with commentary beginning at 3:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. PDT).