ALBAWABA - NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which is only the size of a tissue box, has now concluded its groundbreaking mission by sending its final message to Earth. The space agency announced on Tuesday that Ingenuity will now turn into a stationary data-gathering unit on Mars's surface.
Ingenuity made history as the first aircraft to achieve powered flight on another planet, hitching a ride beneath the Perseverance rover, which launched from Earth on April 19, 2021. NASA bid farewell to Ingenuity on social media, acknowledging its large contributions to Mars exploration.
Originally planned for only five test flights, Ingenuity surpassed many expectations by completing a total of 72 flights, totaling over two hours of flight time. It overcame many challenges, including dust storms, rough terrain, technical malfunctions, and harsh weather conditions.
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At first, it was designed as a proof-of-concept for flight in Mars' thin atmosphere, Ingenuity then evolved into an aerial scout to aid Perseverance in its search for evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars.
Operating primarily in spring, Ingenuity faced difficulties in winter due to its solar-powered heating system. Engineers had to come up with new protocols to prevent the flight computer from freezing overnight.
Meanwhile, NASA aims to expedite the return of Mars rock samples collected by Perseverance, addressing some budget concerns. This all comes as China progresses towards its own Mars sample return mission by 2030, potentially becoming the first nation to achieve this milestone.
