NASA’s miniature robot helicopter, Ingenuity, which achieved powered flight on Mars in 2021, has concluded its mission after an “emergency landing” during its second-to-last flight.
The craft lost contact during its last flight and was later found to have sustained damage to one of its rotor blades.
“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.
“We’re investigating the possibility that the blade struck the ground,” Nelson said.
Originally planned for a 30-day mission, Ingenuity’s scientific endeavor lasted nearly three years, involving 72 flights and flying a distance 14 times farther than planned.
Its success led to a more productive role in scouting locations for the Perseverance rover.
The craft’s final tests will be conducted, and remaining images will be downloaded before concluding its mission.
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