What’s driving the news
Ingenuity’s mission came to an end after its final flight on January 18, when it sustained damage to its rotor blades, leaving it incapable of further flight.
The fate of the 4-pound (1.8-kg) rotor-craft was sealed when imagery beamed back to Earth showed that a portion of one of its twin rotor blades had broken off during its final flight on January 18, leaving it incapable of further operation.
Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said in a video posted on social media that Ingenuity, the “little helicopter that could”, had taken its last flight on Mars.
The helicopter, which was carried to the Red Planet strapped to the belly of Nasa’s Perseverance rover, far exceeded the expectations of engineers who designed and built it at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angeles.
Ingenuity ultimately buzzed over the Martian terrain 14 times farther than originally planned, logging more than two hours, eight minutes of flight time and covering a distance of 10.5 miles (17 km) through all 72 flights. Its peak altitude was measured at 78.7 feet (24 meters).
This unexpected conclusion marks the culmination of a mission that started as a mere 30-day experiment but evolved into a three-year adventure, pushing the boundaries of interplanetary aviation and revolutionizing our understanding of powered flight on other worlds.
Why it matters
The success of Ingenuity is a testament to human innovation and the relentless pursuit of exploration. As the first vehicle to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet, Ingenuity not only proved that aerial mobility is feasible on Mars but also opened new horizons for future missions. Its ability to scout and navigate the Martian terrain has provided invaluable data, paving the way for more sophisticated and ambitious aerial missions in our solar system, including the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon, Titan.
What they are saying
Nasa officials have expressed a mix of pride and nostalgia as they reflect on Ingenuity’s accomplishments.
“It is bittersweet that I must announce that Ingenuity, the ‘little helicopter that could’ – and it kept saying, ‘I think I can, I think I can’ – well, it has now taken its last flight on Mars,” Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said.
“Like the Wright brothers, what they did back here on Earth at the early part of the last century, Ingenuity has paved the way for future flight in our solar system, and it’s leading the way for smarter, safer human missions to Mars and beyond,” Nelson added.
Teddy Tzanetos, JPL’s Ingenuity project manager, told reporters that engineers believe guidance difficulties posed by the “bland” terrain where Ingenuity was flying resulted in the rotors striking the surface, damaging one of the blades.
“Ingenuity has been a phenomenal success, and we are very proud of what it has accomplished,” Tzanetos said. “It has opened up new possibilities for aerial exploration on Mars and beyond.”
What’s next
Ingenuity will live out its final days idle but emit periodic blips of data before losing contact with the rover as Perseverance moves farther away. The rover, which landed on the floor of a vast Martian basin called Jerezo Crater on a separate mission aimed primarily at collecting surface samples for eventual return to Earth, will continue its scientific work on the Red Planet.
Nasa officials said Ingenuity’s exploits have paved the way for a new mode of aerial exploration on Mars and elsewhere in the solar system, such as Saturn’s moon Titan, for which Nasa plans to launch a drone-like rotor-craft called Dragonfly in 2027.
Meanwhile, the space community looks forward to future missions, such as the Dragonfly rotorcraft destined for Titan, which will build on the successes and lessons learned from Ingenuity’s pioneering flights. As Nasa continues to push the boundaries of exploration, the spirit of Ingenuity will continue to guide the way toward new frontiers and possibilities in our quest to understand the cosmos.
(With inputs from agencies)