Well, this thing sure looks familiar.Copy Cat<\/p>\n
Where have we seen this one before?<\/p>\n
Chinas National Space Science Center (CNNSC) has shown off a prototype for a Mars cruise drone that looks extremely familiar.<\/p>\n
The image shared by the science center shows a small rotorcraft with two large blades sitting on a table seemingly heavily inspired by NASAs Ingenuity Mars helicopter, as SpaceNews reporter Andrew Jones pointed out on Twitter.<\/p>\n
The fun way to put it would be that it is the opposite of Ingenuity,' Jones joked. More Familiarity than Ingenuity, but more the merrier.<\/p>\n
Imitation, after all, is the sincerest form of flattery.<\/p>\n
The drone, described in an announcement by CNNSC, will be outfitted with a spectrometer to presumably scan the geographical features of the Martian landscape.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, the statement is pretty thin on details. Futurism has reached out to the CNNSC for further comment.<\/p>\n
China has extensive plans for exploration of the Red Planet. Earlier this year, China revealed that it aims to send its first crewed mission to Mars as soon as 2033.<\/p>\n
Its not all bluster. In an astonishing accomplishment, the country managed to successfully land a rover on the planet in May.<\/p>\n
NASA spent several years refining the design of the Ingenuity helicopter, painstakingly reproducing the harsh conditions and gravity of Mars back here on Earth.<\/p>\n
The mission has been a massive success, with the small four pound rotorcraft beating every expectation. To date, the aircraft has flown 12 times since its groundbreaking maiden voyage in mid-April.<\/p>\n
Perhaps its no wonder China wants in on the fun exploring the surface of Mars from air is just as captivating as it sounds.<\/p>\n
More on Ingenuity: NASA Mars Helicopter Flies Super High, Spots Rover Way Down on Ground<\/p>\n
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\nChina Appears to Be Working on a Clone of NASA's Mars Helicopter - Futurism<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"