Ingenuity, the Mars Helicopter, Extends its Mission

It was only supposed to fly five times. And yet NASA's helicopter on Mars, Ingenuity, has completed 12 flights and it isn't ready to retire. Given its stunning and unexpected success, the US space agency has extended Ingenuity's mission indefinitely. The tiny helicopter has become the regular travel companion of the rover Perseverance, whose core mission is to seek signs of ancient life on Mars. "Everything is working so well," said Josh Ravich, the head of Ingenuity's mechanical engineering team. "We're doing better on the surface than we had expected."

Ingenuity is now being sent out to scout the way for Perseverance, using its high-resolution color camera. The purpose is twofold: to chart a path for the rover that is safe, but also which is of scientific interest, notably in geological terms. The helicopter should be able to keep operating for some time. But the approaching Martian winter will be challenging. NASA engineers, now armed with the data from Ingenuity's flights, are already working on its next-generation successors.



Credits:
https://www.sciencealert.com/remember-nasa-s-little-mars-copter-it-s-still-going-strong