Ingenuity, the NASA helicopter finally took off on the planet Mars this Monday, April 19, 2021. – NASA via Sipa USA / SIPA
- Much awaited in the world of astrophysicists and space aficionados, the flight of the Ingenuity mini-helicopter on Mars took place on Monday.
- The purpose of this mission was less to collect data than to see if the craft would succeed in taking off.
- Pernelle Bernardi, CNRS engineer at the Laboratory for Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics and System Manager for the Supercam instrument of the Perseverance rover of the Mars 2020 mission followed the event from home and answered our questions.
It was a week late (due to a small technical problem) that Ingenuity finally rose above Mars on Monday. Scientists hope this NASA mini-helicopter will collect invaluable data on living conditions on the planet. This feat, this afternoon was followed around the world and in particular by Pernelle Bernardi, CNRS engineer at the Laboratory for Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics, who answered our questions at the same time.
How is this mission unique?
This is the first time that a motorized flying machine has visited Mars. Quite simply because the conditions on Mars are not at all the same as on Earth. Atmospheric pressure is 100 times less dense. There is therefore much less lift. This means that in order for a helicopter to soar into Martian air, the latter’s blades must be adapted and made to rotate much faster. Ingenuity has been tested on Earth and the propellers spin at 2,400 rpm. This is one of the major technical difficulties to be solved.
What other big challenge did Ingenuity face?
Temperatures on Mars are also much lower than on Earth. At night they drop to -80 or -100 ° C. It’s very traumatic for the material that has to be heated. The helicopter is equipped with solar panels which allow it to be recharged during the day. We must therefore manage the energy to heat this small helicopter, but also to make it fly and to communicate with the Perseverance rover, which serves as a relay to the orbiters on Earth. It is very complex.
What important data could this mission bring to researchers?
There will be no data for scientific purposes, except perhaps the exploitation of the images if the small helicopter manages to move. Ingenuity does not have any scientific tools on board, it is a technological demonstration mission. There will be no remote analyzes, for example. Today he just had to take off three meters above the ground, turn a bit and rest. We’ll see if he managed to take pictures and send them. We will also analyze this battery data and its correct orientation.
If the Ingenuity helicopter mission is successful, it will be a big step forward, especially for geological studies and exploration of Mars because it can travel faster and further than Perseverance. We’re all super excited. If all goes as planned, the next goal will be to be able to send larger and heavier craft to Mars, this time with scientific tools inside.