NASA’s unprecedented Mars helicopter mission has ended. It features the miniature robotic helicopter Ingenuity, which is known for being the first powered aircraft to fly on another planet. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared the news in a social media video.
“It’s bittersweet that I must declare that Ingenuity, ‘the little helicopter that can’ – and keep saying, ‘I think I can, I think I can’ – is OK. , it has now made its last flight to Mars,” Reuters quoted Nelson as saying.
The mission was initially planned for 30 days, however, this was extended to approximately three years. Ingenuity’s journey involved 72 flights, covering 14 times the distance than expected. This small 1.8 kg solar powered aircraft began its historic venture in April 2021. It successfully hovered over the surface of Mars and demonstrated the potential of new aerial exploration methods in the Solar System.
Ingenuity experienced difficulties in its final days; An emergency landing occurred on its final flight. On January 18, communication with the Perseverance rover was lost during its final flight. Ingenuity was only 3 feet above the ground at that time. Contact was reestablished, but damage to one of its rotor blades was apparent.
“We are investigating the possibility that the blade hit the ground,” Nelson said.
In February 2021, Perseverance landed on Mars carrying Ingenuity. Ingenuity resembled a box with four legs and a twin-rotor canopy, designed for the thin atmosphere of Mars. In its first flight it climbed up to 10 feet, rotated 96 degrees and landed safely. This was an achievement comparable to the Wright Brothers’ 1903 flight.
1,000 martian days
The early success of Ingenuity led to an expansion of the role. It searched for locations for Perseverance with its onboard camera and endured nearly 1,000 Martian days, including harsh winter weather.
Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will conduct final tests and download the remaining images to Ingenuity. Meanwhile, Perseverance is too far away to capture images of Ingenuity’s final resting place.
(With Reuters inputs)
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Published: 26 January 2024, 07:11 am IST
