Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, initially deployed by NASA to test the feasibility of powered flight on Mars, has been repurposed as a weather station following a crash that ended its flying capabilities, as per reports. According to updates shared during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Washington, D.C., the helicopter suffered rotor damage during its 72nd flight on January 18, 2024. While the crash rendered it unable to fly, its onboard systems remain functional, offering the potential for continued data collection on Mars.
Håvard Grip, the helicopter's first pilot, elaborated on the challenges of the crash analysis, emphasizing the lack of direct access to the crash site. He stated that the accident site is more than 160 million kilometers away which makes it difficult to confirm certain details of the sequence of events.
Although its flying missions have concluded, Ingenuity retains the capacity to collect and store telemetry data for up to 20 years, as shared by NASA scientists. However, communication between the helicopter and Earth depends on the Perseverance rover, which is now located 3 kilometres away. Tzanetos also stated that permanent loss of contact with Ingenuity could occur within a month, barring unforeseen developments.
While Ingenuity's mission ends, JPL has begun exploring concepts for a new Mars helicopter, as per sources. Plans involve a six-rotor design capable of carrying scientific instruments and autonomously covering greater distances on the Martian surface.
For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.