The small helicopter "Ingenuity" completed its last flight today after flying on Mars for nearly three years. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that during its final mission, the helicopter suffered damage to at least one of its carbon fiber rotors and was unfortunately permanently grounded.
To describe Ingenuity as "outstanding" is something of an understatement: The helicopter was originally launched as a technology demonstration mission, and engineers hope the vehicle will be able to make as many as five flights. As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson explained in a statement today, Ingenuity is facing a very, very thin Martian atmosphere, with a density less than 1% that of Earth.
Mars is known for its crazy dust storms and extremely low temperatures, and its thin atmosphere can barely shield it from radiation. But despite these challenges, Ingenuity ultimately completed 72 flights, covering a total distance of 11 miles and a maximum climb of 79 feet.
On April 19, 2021, an autonomous helicopter took to the skies for the first time. When it arrived at the Red Planet, it was fixed to the bottom of the "Perseverance" rover that was still active on the surface of Mars. Ingenuity acted as a scout for the rover, inspecting the scene and collecting important photos and videos.
"Like the Wright brothers, Ingenuity is paving the way for future flights in the solar system and leading the way for smarter, safer missions to Mars and beyond," Nelson said.
The agency is still investigating the possibility that the damaged blade struck the ground. Just last week, NASA experienced a two-day communications blackout after the little helicopter made its final flight.