In January, NASA announced the conclusion of the historic mission of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter after one of its rotor blades sustained damage during landing. The rotorcraft is now permanently grounded due to the snapped rotor. Recently, the Perseverance rover captured images of the helicopter and the extent of the damage it incurred
Originally conceived as a technology demonstration, Ingenuity aimed to accomplish five test flights within a 30-day period. It etched its name in history as the pioneer vehicle to execute powered flight on another celestial body. Surpassing all expectations, Ingenuity surpassed its initial mission objectives by completing an impressive 72 flights spanning three years.
“The historic voyage of Ingenuity, the inaugural aircraft on another planet, has concluded. This remarkable helicopter soared higher and traversed farther distances than initially envisioned, showcasing NASA’s ability to achieve the extraordinary. Through endeavors like Ingenuity, NASA is forging pathways for future aerial endeavors within our solar system and advancing smarter, safer human exploration towards Mars and beyond,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a press release.
According to the Planetary Society, the broken blade of the helicopter rests approximately 15 meters away from the inactive craft. Geovisual designer Simeon Schmauß utilized images from the Perseverance rover to compose a mosaic providing a comprehensive view showcasing both the helicopter and the distant blade.
On January 18 of this year, the accident occurred as the Ingenuity team opted for a brief vertical hop to pinpoint its precise location following an emergency landing in a previous flight. Telemetry data from the rotorcraft indicated that it reached its peak altitude of 12 meters, maintaining a hover for 4.5 seconds before initiating a rapid descent at a velocity of approximately one meter per second.
At approximately one meter above the surface, ground controllers lost communication with Ingenuity. Perseverance was deployed to assess the incurred damage, yet NASA continues to investigate the precise cause of the incident.