NASA is working on its next mission to launch a helicopter to the Mars. The project is scheduled in July 2020. The project is in the development phase at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) since the year 2013. Some of its features are:
- The Mars helicopter will weigh around 1.8 kg and will be designed to operate in the planet’s extremely thin atmosphere.
- Earth, being several light minutes away, the helicopter will be highly autonomous.
- It will receive and operate on the commands from the ground to share information.
The Mars helicopter is a high risk- high reward project and if successful, it may open new opportunities in interplanetary exploration.