NASA Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Unlocks Rotorblades Ahead of Flight

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has activated its rotor blades in preparation for a historic ride over Mars' surface.

Ingenuity landed on Mars on February 18 with NASA's Perseverance rover, hidden within the rover's belly, after a long journey out to the Red Planet. The little chopper has parted ways with Perseverance as of April 4 and is gearing up for a month-long test campaign. It will be the first powered, guided flight on another world if Ingenuity's Sunday mission is successful.

The space agency has confirmed that the first test flight will take place "no sooner" than April 11 and that it plans to fly at least five times before the month-long journey is completed. It would then be left on the surface, potentially having successfully demonstrated the invention brought to Mars for testing.

"The blades of glory, aka rotor blades of the #MarsHelicopter, have been unlocked and are ready for testing," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California wrote in a tweet posted early today (April 8). "Next, we'll do a slow-speed spin-up of the blades for the first time on the Martian surface."

How did Ingenuity Unfold its Blades?

Since the 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) helicopter traveled to Mars in a folded configuration, tucked under a defensive mask, Ingenuity's flight readiness process has been slow and careful. That's because NASA must first ensure that the helicopter is fit to fly before proceeding.

The first of these jobs entailed unlocking the "blades of glory," removing them from their storage place for the voyage, and preparing them to spin up into the air.

The space agency will now start with a sluggish turn of the blades, which will not be quick enough to lift Ingenuity. That will be the helicopter's first time using them on the ground, which is an important move before getting it into the air.

After that, Space.com said the rotor blades will be sped up to the nearly 2,400 RPM level expected to eventually take off. But the helicopter will remain on the ground.

After that, it would do the first lift-off, taking off and hovering in the thin Martian atmosphere before flying and landing.

That will be the first time any craft from Earth has flown on another planet in a driven or controlled manner.

The helicopter will fly further and higher over the surface in subsequent test flights, providing more information on its results.

NASA would not use Ingenuity to perform scientific experiments. Instead, it is seen as a research showcase, with prototypes being tested to guide future exploration spacecraft.

Perseverance is testing out the scenery and continuing to settle in on Mars while Ingenuity is making flight plans. The car-sized rover has been photographing its own tire tracks and its advanced science arm, among other things.

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