Ingenuity (helicopter)

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ingenuity-helicopter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Ingenuity (helicopter) built?72 flights
2. What is the vehicle type?Autonomous rotorcraft helicopter
3. What is the first extraterrestrial powered flight?April 19, 2021
4. What is Ingenuity?Ingenuity is a tiny helicopter built by NASA that flew on Mars. It showed that powered flight can happen on another planet. It was carried to Mars by the Perseverance rover.
5. How did Ingenuity fly in Mars' thin air?Mars has less than 1% of Earth's air, so Ingenuity was made very light and used fast rotors. Its special materials and design let the blades lift it up. Engineers also used computer programs to keep it stable.

Autonomous Operation: The capability of a system to perform tasks and make decisions without direct human intervention or real-time control.
Rotorcraft: An aircraft that derives lift and thrust from rotating blades, such as a helicopter or autogyro.
Atmospheric Density: A measure of how much mass is contained within a given volume of air; Mars's is significantly lower than Earth's.
Aerial Reconnaissance: The use of aircraft to survey and gather information about an area, often for exploration or scientific purposes.