NASA helicopter's Ingenuity goodbye call
10:11 AM EDT, April 20, 2024
The Martian helicopter Ingenuity, operational on the Red Planet since February 2021, has transmitted its final message to Earth. According to Live Science, this sign-off was a poignant goodbye to the mission's scientists, marking the end of an era for Ingenuity.
NASA-owned Martian helicopter Ingenuity arrived on the Red Planet with the Perseverance rover, touching down in the Jezero crater in February 2021. Scientists had selected this site—believed to have once been a lake rich in organic matter—as the prime location for searching for evidence of past Martian life.
Ingenuity: NASA's helicopter concludes its Mars mission
During over three years on Mars, Ingenuity completed 72 flights, surpassing the initial expectation of just five flights, and amassed a significant treasure trove of data. Unfortunately, its mission has now reached its conclusion. The NASA craft faced several obstacles, including a critical malfunction.
On its final flight on January 18, 2024, the helicopter encountered a mishap after momentarily losing contact with NASA's control team. Live Science reports that the incident caused the vehicle to plummet from approximately 3.3 feet, severely damaging two of its four rotor blades. This incident officially prompted NASA to terminate the mission on January 25.
Ingenuity's last transmission to Earth was sent on April 16. It contained data from its onboard memory, details about its final flight, and a farewell message to the mission team. NASA has stated that although Ingenuity will not take to the skies again, it will not cease its data collection efforts on Mars until its operational end.
The helicopter will power up daily to test its electronics, capture images of the Martian surface, and record temperature data from a location known as "Valinor Hills," where it made its last landing. However, this collected data will remain on Mars and be stored within the device's memory. Retrieving it would entail dispatching additional Martian vehicles or astronauts to the Red Planet.
As highlighted by Live Science, this body of data will be Ingenuity's "final gift" to humanity. Despite its abrupt ending, NASA regards the mission as a monumental success, providing valuable insights and experience crucial for planning future missions to Mars.
