In 2021, the NASA drone 'Ingenuity' lifted off the surface of Mars, programmed to autonomously fly at the press of a button on Earth. This first powered flight on an extraterrestrial planet was the result of an ambitious endeavor, especially since conditions on Mars are significantly different from those on Earth. There, the drone faces a low-density atmosphere, which requires a lightweight design and two fast-spinning rotor blades. At night, the temperature on Mars can be as low as -100 °C, so the drone’s battery and electronics need to be protected.

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This masterpiece of technology paves the way for the exploration of planets outside of our solar system.