The Ingenuity Mars Helicopters carbon fiber blades can be seen in this video taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASAs Perseverance Mars rover on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. NASAs Ingenuity Mars Helicopter lands with a soft bounce after its fifth flight, as recorded by the Mastcam-Z imager aboard Perseverance. Resourcefulness landed on the Red Planet in February 2021 attached to the tummy of NASAs Mars Perseverance rover and very first took flight April 19, 2021. With Ingenuitys objective extended through September 2022, it can continue testing its limitations in order to support the style of future Mars air lorries.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by JPL, which also handles the job for NASA Headquarters.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopters carbon fiber blades can be seen in this video taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASAs Perseverance Mars rover on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. They are carrying out a wiggle test prior to the real spin-up to guarantee they were working properly. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
The first aircraft to attain powered, controlled flight on another planet has actually amassed an award whose previous receivers make up a timeline of aerospace innovation and accomplishment.
The National Aeronautic Association has bestowed the prominent Robert J. Collier Trophy on the team behind NASAs Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, sealing the pioneering rotorcrafts place in aerospace history just as it is about to embark on its 2nd year of flying in the freezing, very thin atmosphere of the Red Planet.
Developed more than a century ago, the award has actually marked major accomplishments in the timeline of flight, consisting of Orville Wright in 1913 for establishing the automated stabilizer, Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager for his sound-barrier-breaking 1947 flight of the X-1 rocket airplane, and the teams of NASAs Apollo 8, 11, and 15 for their missions to the Moon in the late 1960s and early 70s.
NASAs Ingenuity Mars Helicopter lands with a soft bounce after its fifth flight, as recorded by the Mastcam-Z imager aboard Perseverance. The helicopter has actually been bestowed numerous awards since its historical very first flight on April 19, 2021. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The National Aeronautic Association grants the prize annually for “the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, performance, and security of air or space automobiles.” For the group at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, its especially significant to be included among past winners after the enormous challenges they faced by seeing the project launch and take flight in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
” Nearly every action we took on this journey moved into uncharted territory, and numerous didnt think we d even make it into the air. Now, reflecting to waiting nervously to see if our very first sortie would be a success, its extraordinary to be where we are today,” said JPLs Teddy Tzanetos, team lead for the helicopter. “The Collier Trophy is such an honor, and Im so happy of everybody who worked so tough to recognize this vision.”
The helicopter started as a concept from JPLs Bob Balaram. It was championed by previous JPL Director Charles Elachi, with the late Jakob van Zyl offering management and inspiration to the group that established the rotorcraft.
Ingenuity landed on the Red Planet in February 2021 connected to the stomach of NASAs Mars Perseverance rover and first flew April 19, 2021. Designed as an innovation presentation, Ingenuity was planned to finish no more than five flights. The craft, which is simply 19.3 inches (49 centimeters) high and weighs less than 4 pounds (2 kgs), has actually finished 24, defying expectations and transitioning into an operations presentation, serving as an aerial scout for Perseverance. With Ingenuitys objective extended through September 2022, it can continue checking its limits in order to support the style of future Mars air automobiles.
Other Honors for Ingenuity
The Collier Trophy adds to a list of awards gotten by NASAs Ingenuity group. Last month, the Ingenuity group accepted the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy from the National Space Club & & Foundation, in addition to the Michael Collins Trophy for Current Achievement from the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum.
The group also recently won the Vertical Flight Societys Howard Hughes Award for “outstanding improvement in basic helicopter innovation,” the John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration from the Space Foundation, Aviation Week Networks 2021 Laureate Award, and the Royal Institute of Navigations Duke of Edinburghs Navigation Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement. Resourcefulness will be honored with the 2022 IEEE Spectrum Emerging Technology Award at a May 6 ceremony in San Diego.
More About Ingenuity
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by JPL, which also manages the job for NASA Headquarters. It is supported by NASAs Science Mission Directorate. NASAs Ames Research Center in Californias Silicon Valley and the agencys Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, provided significant flight efficiency analysis and technical assistance throughout Ingenuitys development. AeroVironment Inc., Qualcomm, and SolAero likewise supplied style support and significant car parts. Lockheed Space in Denver developed and made the Mars Helicopter Delivery System.
At NASA Headquarters, Dave Lavery is the program executive for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter.