In photos: NASA’s first space shuttle flight, STS-1 on Columbia

NASA The space shuttle Columbia, NASA’s first orbiter, is showered with lights in this nocturnal scene at Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., during preparations for the first flight (STS-1) of NASA’s new reusable spacecraft system. This photo was taken in March 1981 ahead of Columbia’s April 12, 1981 launch. Soaring Into History NASA A remote camera at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A captured this scene as the maiden flight of space shuttle Columbia begins on April 12, 1981. Astronauts John W.…

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NASA delays Mars helicopter Ingenuity’s 1st flight to April 14

NASA has delayed the first flight of its Mars helicopter Ingenuity after the vehicle’s last test ended earlier than planned. Ingenuity will now remain planted firmly on the Red Planet’s surface until at least Wednesday (April 14), according to a statement from the agency. The delay comes in response to an anomaly during a test that was meant to see the helicopters blades reach flight-like speeds of 2,400 revolutions per minute. “During a high-speed spin test of the rotors on Friday, the command sequence controlling the test ended early due…

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The Mars helicopter Ingenuity is about to make history in the skies of another world

Update for 3 p.m. ET: NASA has delayed the first flight of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars until no earlier than Wednesday (April 14) after a final preflight test ended early. NASA is about to make history on the Red Planet with the first controlled, powered flight on another world. This Sunday (April 11), NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is expected to make its first-ever flight on Mars, a historic liftoff for the 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) craft. This flight will come 118 years after the Wright Brothers made their first successful…

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How NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity can fly on the Red Planet

Update for April 10: NASA has delayed the first flight of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars until no earlier than Wednesday (April 14) after a final preflight test ended early. Flying on Mars is far from a breeze, but NASA is confident that its little helicopter is up to the challenge. That 4-lb. (1.8 kilograms) chopper, named Ingenuity, landed with the agency’s Perseverance rover on Feb. 18 and is gearing up to make the first-ever powered, controlled flights on a world beyond Earth. If all goes according to plan, Ingenuity…

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NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is ‘go’ for historic 1st flight on Sunday

Humanity’s first helicopter on Mars has been cleared for a historic takeoff. Ingenuity will take to the skies above Jezero Crater Sunday (April 11) on a 40-second flight — roughly four times longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight on Earth over 117 years ago. The first data, successful or not, should flow back to Earth on Monday (April 12) around 3:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT). The flight plan has the Martian whirlybird hovering just 9 feet (3 meters) above the surface, collecting black-and-white data of landmarks beneath it along…

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NASA to land 1st person of color on the moon with Artemis program

NASA will land the first person of color in addition to the first woman on the moon with the Artemis program, NASA’s Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk revealed today (April 9).  Today, President Joe Biden’s administration submitted a budget proposal outlining its priorities for discretionary spending for the fiscal year 2022 to Congress. The proposed budget includes a funding increase that will support Mars sample return, research, climate science and more at NASA. Jurczyk responded to the news in a NASA statement and additionally revealed that the agency will be landing…

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Biden proposes $24.7 billion NASA budget in 2022 to support moon exploration and more

More than two months after taking office, President Joe Biden has offered a first look at his budget priorities, and the signs for NASA are generally promising. The administration today (April 9) unveiled a so-called “skinny budget” for fiscal year 2022, which begins on Oct. 1. Biden’s proposed budget requests $24.7 billion for NASA, a $1.5 billion increase from 2021. The skinny budget represents only top-line budget items, a traditional practice for the first year of a new presidential administration because of how the inauguration and Congress’ budgetary calendar align.…

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