Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California and AeroEnvironment are conducting an extensive investigation of the final flight of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which took place on January 18, 2024. According to reports, the rotorcraft, initially designed to perform a short aerial flight on Mars, exceeded expectations by completing 72 flights in almost three years. Details of the investigation, which are to be released in a technical report, are intended to inform future aircraft designed for extraterrestrial exploration.
Last Flight of Ingenuity
The 72nd mission was reportedly planned as a routine ascent to test systems and capture images. Data shows that the helicopter reached a height of 40 feet before landing. Reports suggest that the vehicle lost communication immediately after landing. Images obtained a few days later confirmed significant damage to the rotor blades, ending Ingenuity’s operational career.
cause of incident
According to reports, experts suggest that the lack of distinctive surface features in the sand undulated terrain of Jezero Crater was the probable cause of the failure of the navigation system. Howard Gripp, Ingenuity’s first pilot, said in a statement that the navigation system, which relies on surface texture tracking, struggled in the harsh environment. The resulting errors reportedly resulted in high horizontal speed at touchdown, causing severe mechanical stress.
continuing contribution
Despite being grounded, Ingenuity still transmits weather and avionics data to the Perseverance rover, aiding ongoing Mars research. According to Teddy Tzanatos, Ingenuity’s project manager, in a statement, the mission marked the pioneering use of commercial off-the-shelf processors in space, demonstrating their potential durability in harsh environments.
Next steps for flight to Mars
NASA engineers are exploring future designs inspired by ingenuity. Concepts under review include the Mars Chopper, a large rotorcraft capable of carrying scientific instruments and exploring challenging terrain autonomously. This development aims to expand the boundaries of aerial exploration of Mars while building on the legacy of Ingenuity’s achievements.
