Ingenuity touched the ground of Mars

NASA's small helicopter, the Ingenuity, which is the first man-made spacecraft to fly to an alien world, has landed on Mars for the first time. The ship has been at the bottom of the Perseverance rover since it landed on the Red Planet on February 18 and now the rover has successfully left it on the ground.

Until now, Ingenuity relied for energy and heat on the Perseverance nuclear battery, but now it has to prove how durable it is based on its own battery. It will first have to survive a few icy nights on Mars and then flight tests will begin.

In the coming days, the Ingenuity team will check the operation of the battery and the solar panels, before proceeding to check the mechanical components and sensors. The first flight is expected to take place on April 11 and will include a three-meter elevation and staying at that altitude for 30 seconds. There will be 5 more flights during the month, during which Ingenuity will take high resolution photos.