Ingenuity Helicopter made first flight at low density Mars atmosphere with 2700 rpm (flight 14)

On October 24, 2021 NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover transmitted Ingenuity’s Helicopter images from 14 flight on Mars with high speed setting. Previously Ingenuity cannot get off the ground because of some software issue. Helicopter executed its first 2,700 rpm flight, proving that Ingenuity is capable of flying in the weeks and months ahead on Mars, during which seasonal changes on the surface will result in decreases in air density. Flight 14’s time was 23 seconds included a peak altitude of 16 feet (5 meters) above ground level, with a small sideways translation of 7 feet (2 meters) to avoid a nearby sand ripple. So now Ingenuity can fly at low density Mars atmosphere.

Credit: nasa.gov, NASA/JPL-Caltech, NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Source for NASA’s report on Ingenuity Flight 14 success: https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/341/flight-14-successful/

Source for NASA’s report for Mars’ atmospheric density drop: https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/334/flying-on-mars-is-getting-harder-and-harder/

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