“Ingenuity” will remain on Mars and continue to collect data “that could benefit future explorers of the Red Planet.” The helicopter, which resembles a drone, landed on the Red Planet in February 2021 together with the “Perseverance” rover and supported it as an “aerial reconnaissance” in the search for signs of possible life on Mars. In April 2021, “Ingenuity” completed its first flight – a first in the history of space travel.
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72 flights in almost 3 years
At the start of the mission, the goal for the helicopter, which weighs just 1.8 kilograms, was to complete five flights on Mars within 30 days. Ultimately, 72 flights took place in almost three years. In January, NASA reported that the aircraft had suffered damage to “one or more” rotor blades and could no longer fly.
Overall, the longevity of the small aircraft exceeded all expectations. It braved dust storms, treacherous terrain, a dead sensor and the extremely freezing temperatures on Mars. The solar-powered heating system, designed to operate in the spring, could not stay on all night in the winter – causing the flight computer to freeze. However, the engineers managed to develop new procedures.
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