You might be one of those space enthusiasts but also skeptics who are tired of NASA telling us for a few years already that we’re going to Mars, but at the same time, we all know that no astronaut has ever landed there. Well, you should definitely cut those guys from NASA some slack.
Sending people to the Red Planet is no walk in the park, as it’s clearly a lot more difficult than how we’ve seen it happening in the movies. It’s highly likely that humans will lay foot on our neighboring planet sooner or later, but at the same time, NASA and other space agencies need to perform a lot of studies to figure out how the human body would behave in a Martian environment. Can we adapt to the gravity and the space radiation of Mars, even while wearing a spacesuit? Those are some of the essential questions that need answers.
In the meantime, NASA has been studying the Martian environment remotely, and one of the ways is through the Ingenuity helicopter that landed on the Red Planet in early 2021 as being carried by the Perseverance rover.
Ingenuity marks the 50th flight on the Red Planet
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has exceeded all expectations on its Martian journey, as it recently flew above the Red Planet’s soil for the 50th time. The robotic helicopter is part of NASA’s Mars 2020 program, and it was destined to prove that it is indeed possible to fly a robotic aircraft on another planet.
Two years ago, I had just dropped off the #MarsHelicopter for its wild dream of a tech demo: flying on Mars. Now it has just notched its 50th flight. Talk about Ingenuity!
Next steps for the heli: https://t.co/vuvgzBUea0 pic.twitter.com/t1vn0nKfcy
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) April 14, 2023
Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, has said in a recent tweet:
50 flights on Mars? Incredible! The Ingenuity #MarsHelicopter continues to push the limits of what’s possible in space exploration. Congratulations to the entire @NASA and @NASAJPL team behind this remarkable feat!
50 flights on Mars? Incredible! The Ingenuity #MarsHelicopter continues to push the limits of what's possible in space exploration. Congratulations to the entire @NASA and @NASAJPL team behind this remarkable feat! https://t.co/fs3berMUTN
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) April 14, 2023
Surely NASA and other space agencies won’t stop here when it comes to the exploration of our neighboring planet, so stay tuned for more similar news!
