The end of a successful mission: NASA's Ingenuity helicopter is damaged durin...

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NASA's Ingenuity helicopter, which became the first powered aircraft under control on another planet in , has come to the end of its mission after suffering damage during a landing on Mars.

Despite being in communication with ground controllers, images sent this week indi Benin Email List cate that one or more rotor blades were damaged during landing, leaving it unable to fly, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) reported.

This innovative helicopter was originally designed as a technology demonstration with the goal of conducting up to five test flights over 30 days on Mars. However, Ingenuity exceeded all expectations and operated on the Martian surface for almost three years, carrying out 72 flights and flying much further than initially planned, accumulating more than two hours of total flight time.

After landing on Mars on February 18, , attached to NASA's Perseverance rover, Ingenuity lifted off from the Martian surface for the first time on April 19, demonstrating the feasibility of controlled, powered flight on this planet.

In addition to making four other successful flights, the half-meter-high, 1.8-kilogram helicopter undertook a new mission as an operations demonstration, serving as an aerial scout for Perseverance scientists and the rover drivers.

Despite the damage that occurred during landing, the Ingenuity project has been considered a great success and has opened new possibilities for future air missions to other planets. The technology used and the knowledge acquired during this mission will lay the foundations to continue exploring space in an innovative and revolutionary way.

Frequent questions:

1. What is NASA's Ingenuity helicopter?
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter is the first controlled powered aircraft ever used on another planet. It was designed as a technology demonstration for test flights on Mars.

2. What is the current status of the Ingenuity helicopter mission?
The Ingenuity helicopter's mission has come to an end due to damage suffered during a landing on Mars. One or more rotor blades were damaged, leaving it unable to fly.

3. How many flights did the Ingenuity helicopter make on Mars?
The Ingenuity helicopter made a total of 72 successful flights on Mars, exceeding initial expectations for the mission.




4. How long was the Ingenuity helicopter operational on Mars?
The Ingenuity helicopter was operational on the Martian surface for almost three years, accumulating more than two hours of total flight time.

5. What was the purpose of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars?
The initial purpose of the Ingenuity helicopter was to conduct test flights as a technology demonstration. However, it was also used as an aerial scout for the scientists and drivers of the Perseverance rover.

Definitions:

– Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, responsible for the design and development of spacecraft and related technologies.