Photos: Mars helicopter set to take its maiden flight on the Red Planet
Percy and Ingenuity
In February, the Perseverance rover landed on Mars with a small dual-rotor helicopter named Ingenuity strapped to its belly. On Tuesday, NASA said it was targeting “no earlier than April 8” for the chopper’s first flight attempt, which it described as “the first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet.” In this gallery, we’ve highlighted some of the best photos of the Martian helicopter ahead of Ingenuity’s pioneering maiden flight attempt on the Red Planet.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this photo of the Martian surface. The added map shows the rover landing site, helicopter flight zone and the airfield.
This photo shows the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover being positioned inside the aeroshell. This structure protected the rover during launch and transport to the Red Planet.
R. Dallon Adams is a journalist originally from Louisville, Kentucky. His previous work includes a wide spectrum of beats and formats ranging from tech-savvy urban planning initiatives to hands-on gadget reviews.