Batteries onboard the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity are charged up, prepping systems for the historic Mars 2020 mission to the Red Planet. Ingenuity is designed to become the first vehicle to ever carry out a powered flight on another world. This unique aerial vehicle, although small and relatively simple, is a scientific experiment that could revolutionize how we explore other planets. On March 7, one week after launch, electrical systems started charging batteries onboard the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity for the first time. Following an eight-hour charge, battery levels reached 35 percent. Mission planners previously determined this low charge-rate is optimal for preserving the…
This story continues at The Next Web
from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2Yv9Fng
