End of race for a dented “Ingenuity”.
NASA announced Thursday the end of the mission of its small helicopter on Mars, named Ingenuity, after it damaged at least one of its rotor blades during its 72nd and final flight.
“What Ingenuity has accomplished far exceeds what we thought possible,” NASA boss Bill Nelson underlined in a video.
The helicopter “paved the way for future flights in our solar system.”
NASA's historic Ingenuity Helicopter has taken its last flight on Mars.
After 72 incredible flights, that remarkable helicopter flew farther and higher than we ever thought possible.
#ThanksIngenuity pic.twitter.com/eYwO9R6LY1
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) January 25, 2024
In 2021, Ingenuity became the first motorized device to fly on another planet.
During its 72nd flight last week, the helicopter reached an altitude of 12 m, but communication was abruptly interrupted shortly before landing.
It was finally able to be restored but NASA teams were able to observe damage to a rotor blade a few days later.
“We are looking into the possibility that the blade may have hit the ground,” Bill Nelson said.
The helicopter is now “no longer capable of flying”, NASA confirmed in a press release, specifying that the causes of the interruption of communications were still being studied.
17 km of flight
Ingenuity was originally only scheduled to take off five times, but the mission exceeded all expectations.
In total, the helicopter traveled some 17 km and flew to an altitude of 24 m.
He had arrived on Mars with the Perseverance rover, whose mission is to find traces of ancient microbial life on Mars.
Also read On Mars, the end of Ingenuity?
“We have affection for this helicopter”
He was thus able to play the role of aerial scout to help his wheeled companion.
Its longevity is remarkable, especially knowing that it had to survive freezing Martian nights, warming itself thanks to solar panels charging its batteries during the day.