Historic first flight for Nasa's $85 million Mars helicopter delayed

Engineers are upgrading the rotorcraft's flight software

Nasa's Ingenuity helicopter on the Martian surface. Nasa 

Nasa will try to fly Ingenuity on Mars. If successful, it will be the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. Pictured is an illustration of the rotorcraft. Nasa

As part of the first test flight, Ingenuity will climb three metres, hover for 30 seconds and then descend back on the Martian surface. Nasa

Ingenuity hitched a ride on the Perseverance rover to reach the Red Planet. The rover landed at the Jezero Crater on February 18. This is a high-resolution image captured by the on-board cameras during the landing. Nasa 

Ingenuity was resting beneath a protective shield under the Perseverance rover. Last week, it dropped the shield on the Martian surface in preparation for the first test flight. Nasa 

The Perseverance rover had been driving around the selected 'airfield' to scout for a drop-off location for Ingenuity. Nasa

Nasa used an image taken by the Perseverance rover to map out an 'airfield' on Mars, where Ingenuity will take flight. Nasa

Tracks left behind the Perseverance rover on the Martian surface as it scouted for a drop off location for Ingenuity. Nasa 

Ingenuity is currently unfolding from its stowed position and will soon touch down on the Martian surface. Nasa

The first flight of Nasa's Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, was delayed so engineers could update the software on the tiny rotorcraft.

The $85 million technology demonstration involves the first controlled, powered flight on another planet.

A high-speed spin test of the rotors last week ended earlier than planned.

Engineers have now identified the issue and are updating the software, with a new flight date to be confirmed.

The landmark flight was initially planned for Monday.

“Over the weekend, the team considered and tested multiple potential solutions to this issue, concluding that minor modification and reinstallation of Ingenuity’s flight control software is the most robust path forward,” Nasa said.

“This software update will modify the process by which the two flight controllers boot up, allowing the hardware and software to safely transition to the flight state.

“Modifications to the flight software are being independently reviewed and validated today and tomorrow in testbeds at [the] Jet Propulsion Laboratory.”

The 1.8-kilogram chopper is healthy and critical functions, such as power, communications and thermal control, are stable.

Ingenuity has survived several key milestones so far, including the 'drop-off' from the Perseverance rover's belly.

The rotorcraft has also survived freezing Martian nights, when temperatures drop to as low as minus 130 degrees Celsius.

Its six lithium-ion batteries keep the heater running for several hours, before needing to recharge through the onboard solar panels.

“It is not unexpected for a technology demonstration like this to encounter challenges that need to be worked in real time,” said Nasa.

“The high-risk, high-reward approach we have taken to the first powered, controlled flight on another planet allows us to push the performance envelope in ways we could not with a mission designed to last for years such as Perseverance.”

Ingenuity aims to measure the engineering capabilities of Nasa and pave the way for more advanced, science-focused missions in the future.

'Perseverance' rover's first drive on Mars - in pictures