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The mars atmosphere is equivalent to 120,000 feet.

The record altitude for a helicopter on earth is 40,820 feet.

How are helicopters able to fly so high on Mars?

Also, parachutes do not open when the altitude is greater than 15,000 feet.

How was the rover able to land at all with parachutes, in an atmosphere equivalent to 120,000 feet?



Phase 1 of the landing used parachutes to bleed off speed, but they aren't able to slow it enough for a soft landing. So a Skycrane was used for the second phase / touching down.

The blades on Ingenuity are larger (relative to the rest of the vehicle) and spin much faster than would be required on Earth.


Parachutes cannot open at 15000 feet on earth - the air pressure is not there.

Why do they open at an air pressure equivalent of 120000 on Mars?

And even if they did open, they would only be able to carry a miniscule weight.

You realise that in a pure vacuum, a feather drops as quickly as a ball bearing?





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