NASA is preparing for the first ever launch of a rotorcraft in the atmosphere of another planet.
The goal of the project is to demonstrate the possibility of using such aircraft during future missions to explore hard-to-reach places on other space objects.
The helicopter reached Mars in February 2021.After landing NASA engineers began to analyze orbital images of the planet's surface and select a flight zone, as well as a location for a takeoff and landing site.
The place must be safe for the helicopter to take off and land.
Havard Griep, Mars helicopter mission team pilot
The surface must be smooth and without largestones. On the other hand, it should contain objects and distinctive features with which the helicopter’s navigation camera can navigate during flight.
As a result, the ideal location is close to the landing site of the Perseverance rover.
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