NASA is preparing the first drone flight on Mars: it was created by a Ukrainian engineer from California

The Ingenuity reconnaissance helicopter, mounted on the bottom of the American Perseverance rover, was lowered to the surface of the Red Planet, reports Liga.net.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

This can be seen from photographs from the archive of “raw” images on the website of the US Aerospace Administration.

The flying drone was not mounted on the rover in a “comfortable” vertical position so that it could simply be picked up and lowered to the ground. Together with the blades and supports, it was folded on Earth in a certain way, and in order to be lowered to the surface, it was first “unfolded.”

Before releasing the helicopter, the rover charged its battery to 100%. After this, the drone will be forced to “survive” temperatures down to –90°C on the surface.

“Next milestone? Survive the night!” the mission tweeted. And the helicopter did it.

The Ingenuity automated helicopter will demonstrate for the first time the ability to fly in the atmosphere of another planet. The first flight is scheduled for April 11th.

Before this, the rover will move away from it to a safe distance, so that, if something happens, it will not become a “target” of the falling drone.

The cost of the Ingenuity project is about $85 million. According to NASA's plan, the drone will make up to five flights.

Building a drone that can fly in the extremely rarefied atmosphere of Mars, guided by artificial intelligence, is not an easy task. A Ukrainian engineer from California took part in the creation of a unique apparatus. His story is told "Voice of America".

Engineer Igor Panchenko goes to work at the AeroVironment office in Simi Valley, California. This company has multi-year contracts with the Pentagon and NASA, for which it produces drones. Igor has been working here as an engineer for about 20 years. And he is most proud of the last project.

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This is the Ingenuity helicopter. The first reconnaissance drone to fly over the surface of Mars. Igor Panchenko became one of its developers. He developed a solar battery, propeller blades and a shaft, a vertical shaft on which various components and interfaces are assembled.

“It was necessary to make the parts very light - and as strong as needed,” says Igor in Ukrainian. “The helicopter must match the temperature differences that exist on the surface of Mars.”

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

The atmosphere of Mars is different from that of the earth. Atmospheric pressure near the surface of Mars is the same as at an altitude of 35 kilometers above the Earth. Therefore, the task of the team of engineers and designers was to make a drone that would fly in a very rarefied atmosphere. It weighs only 1,8 kg. The propeller blades are much larger than they would be in a conventional helicopter, the developers explain, because they have to spin much faster than in Earth's atmosphere. The material is as tough as steel, but as light as plastic: titanium, beryllium and aluminum.

The main task of the drone on Mars is to test the flight capabilities of such devices. If everything goes according to plan, then helicopters of a similar design will be used to video and photograph areas of Mars from close angles.

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The drone has two video cameras. One at the bottom - it faces down and is used solely for navigation. There is a second video camera in front that takes photographs of the surface. These photos are sent back to Earth so scientists can look at them and evaluate them.

Ingenuity does not use GPS systems, but is guided only by artificial intelligence. Its maiden flight will last approximately 90 seconds. The helicopter will rise 4,5 meters above the surface of Mars.

Photo: video frame Voice of America/Reuters

“When I see photographs on television, I feel proud that I somehow touched this,” says Igor.

Igor Panchenko came to the United States in 1999. In Kiev, he graduated from an aviation technical school. In the United States, he confirmed his diploma and received a bachelor's degree in aerospace.

“I would like to salute all my teachers and thank them for the time they invested in me, for their knowledge, for their persistence and patience,” he says.

Igor and his colleagues are waiting for the video of the first flight of their creation to appear. Then they will know if the technology can stand the test of the Red Planet.

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