Unmanned Helicopter Ingenuity Sets New Altitude and Speed ​​Records During 49th Mars Launch

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced another

successful launch of the unmanned Martian helicopter Ingenuity. It became his 49th since arriving on the Red Planet.

What is known

Ingenuity is an $80 million Martian drone that went to the Red Planet in the middle of summer 2020 and made its first flight on April 19, 2021.

April 2, 2023 Ingenuity pulled off for the 49th timefrom the surface of Mars. As part of the next flight, the unmanned helicopter was able to update personal speed and altitude records. Below is a photo taken as part of this mission.

Two new records for the #MarsHelicopter! Ingenuity successfully completed Flight 49, setting a new flight speed record of 14.5 mph (6.5 m/s) and an altitude record of 52.5 ft (16 meters).

See more stats: https://t.co/7DMHj9LkNX pic.twitter.com/Od4jXGS8QE

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) April 3, 2023

A Martian drone weighing less than 2 kg accelerated to 23.3 km / h. In flight, he was able to conquer a height of 14 meters. The previous records are 21.6 km/h and 14 meters respectively.

Ingenuity's main mission ended in 2021.NASA planned to make five flights to demonstrate the possibility of flying in a rarefied atmosphere. This was done within weeks of the drone's arrival on Mars.

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Since the drone remained in operationcondition, the space agency continued to operate. The helicopter helps the Perseverance rover collect soil samples, acting as a flying reconnaissance. For 49 missions, Ingenuity flew almost an hour and a half and covered more than 11,000 km, while the rover traveled only 17.17 km.