NASA’s Mars helicopter: April 8 is the earliest date for first flight

[smp]

From Ars Technica:
"On Tuesday, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) hosted a press conference where it detailed the plans for the Ingenuity drone that hitched a ride to Mars attached to the underside of the Perseverance rover. The scientists and engineers behind the drone announced that they've now picked a site for what is expected to be the first powered flight on another planet. With the site settled, they're now targeting April 8 for the flight, which will be the first in a monthlong series of test flights to validate the technology."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03 ... s-on-mars/

I'm excited for this new type of on-planet exploration!

smp

[smp]

From Space.com:
"NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity could fly for 1st time on April 8"

https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-i ... ly-april-8

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[smp]

Another article from BBC.com:
"Nasa to fly Ingenuity Mars helicopter in early April"

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56505031

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[helicon]

Great news Stephen.

[Graeme1858]

Test flight is scheduled for April 11, with live stream to confirm results on April 12, 12:30 a.m. PT/3:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. UTC.

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helico ... tch-Online

This will be brilliant!

Regards

Graeme

[smp]

Looks like the flight has been delayed to "No earlier than April 14."

smp

[smp]

Here's the brief article on NASA.gov:
"Mars Helicopter Flight Delayed to No Earlier than April 14"

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helico ... -april-14/

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[helicon]

I hope that the issue can be overcome. I read on facebook that there is a problem with the rotor.