On 19th April 2021, the autonomous NASA helicopter Ingenuity made its first flight at Wright Brothers Field on Mars.
Ingenuity (also nicknamed Ginny) became the first aircraft to perform powered and controlled extra-terrestrial flight. Although originally planned to make not more than five flights, the helicopter turned out to be much more than a technology demonstrator and remained operational for almost three years.
The Ingenuity landed on Mars on 18th February 2021, attached to the underside of Perseverance rover. On 19th April, the rotorcraft made its first flight there, thus proving that powered, controlled flight on Mars is possible.
Designed by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as technology demonstrator, the Ingenuity was originally intended to make only five flights in thirty days. However, this brave robotic helicopter turned out to perform at flying in the thin Martian atmosphere and challenging conditions better than expected.
Therefore, the Mars Helicopter Team from NASA JPL, that supervised the rotorcraft mission, decided to extend it, and make as many flights as possible. Soon, the Ingenuity switched from being a mere technology demonstrator to a real aerial scout for its wheeled companion, the Perseverance. Since then, the rotorcraft was looking from above for potential best route for the rover and taking dozens of photographs of the Mars surface.
On 18th January 2024, the NASA Mars Helicopter Team conducted the 72nd and, as it turned out, final flight of the Ingenuity.
During its mission on Mars, that lasted nearly three years, or 1035 Sols (Martian days), the Ingenuity worked approximately 33 times longer than it was originally expected. At that time, it performed the incredible number of 72 flights, flown a total distance of 17 kilometres (10.5 miles), as well as clocked 128.8 minutes of total flight time and reached altitudes as high as 24 metres (78.7 feet).
More information about development, operational use and the final flight of the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity can be found in the links below:
- Ingenuity Mars Helicopter completes its 50th flight
- Historic journey of Ingenuity, NASA Mars Helicopter has come to end
Cover photo: Helicopter Above Perseverance on Mars – an illustration depicts Mars Helicopter Ingenuity during a test flight on Mars (by NASA – PIA24127).
