In this image, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter hovers over the Red Planet as NASA’s Perseverance rover (slightly visible at left) rolls away. It completed its 50th flight on April 13, 2023, covering more than 1,057 feet and reaching a new altitude record of 59 feet. Initially designed for just five flights, Ingenuity has exceeded expectations, providing invaluable flight data and imagery for future Mars missions. While some parts show signs of wear and tear, Ingenuity’s mission continues to push the limits of Mars technology and exploration. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The history-making rotorcraft has recently been negotiating some of the most dangerous terrain it has encountered on the Red Planet.
Mars Helicopter marked its 50th flight on April 13, 2023, achieving new altitude and distance records. Despite facing challenging terrain and increased frequency of flights, Ingenuity continues to provide valuable data for future Mars missions.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has completed its 50th flight on Mars. The first aircraft on another world reached the half-century mark on April 13, traveling over 1,057.09 feet (322.2 meters) in 145.7 seconds. The helicopter also achieved a new altitude record of 59 feet (18 meters) before alighting near the half-mile-wide (800-meter-wide) “Belva Crater.”
Ingenuity at Airfield D: This image of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument of the Perseverance rover on June 15, 2021, the 114th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The location, “Airfield D” (the fourth airfield), is just east of the “Séítah” geologic unit. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
With Flight 50 in the mission logbook, the helicopter team plans to perform another repositioning flight before exploring the “Fall River Pass” region of Jezero Crater.
“Just as the Wright brothers continued their experiments well after that momentous day at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the Ingenuity team continues to pursue and learn from the flight operations of the first aircraft on another world,” said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter made history when it achieved the first powered, controlled flight to another planet on April 19, 2021. Less than two years later, on April 13, 2023, it completed its 50th flight. Here are some highlights from rotorcraft trips to the Red Planet. Credit: NASA/[{” attribute=””>JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Ingenuity landed on the Red Planet in February 2021 attached to the belly of NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover and will soon mark the two-year anniversary of its first flight, which took place on April 19, 2021. Designed as a technology demonstration that would fly no more than five times, the helicopter was intended to prove powered, controlled flight on another planet was possible. But Ingenuity exceeded expectations and transitioned into being an operations demonstration.
Every time Ingenuity goes airborne, it covers new ground and offers a perspective no previous planetary mission could achieve. Imagery from the helicopter has not only demonstrated how aircraft could serve as forward scouts for future planetary expeditions, but it has even come in handy for the Perseverance team.
Teddy Tzanetos at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory provides an update on the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and discusses how it is inspiring future aerial exploration of the Red Planet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
By testing the helicopter’s limits, the engineers are gathering flight data that can be used by engineers working on designs for possible future Mars helicopters. That includes the people designing the proposed Mars Sample Return campaign Recovery Helicopter Samples.
Dangerous Land
Since leaving the relatively flat confines of Jezero Crater’s floor on January 19, Ingenuity has flown 11 times, setting new speed and altitude records of 14.5 mph (6.5 meters per second) and 59 feet (18 meters) on the road.
Although the deep freeze of winter and regional dust events (which can block the Sun’s rays from reaching the helicopter’s solar panel) has subsided, Ingenuity continues no electricity at night. As a result, the Helicopter Base Station the rover has to look for the rotorcraft signal every morning at the time Ingenuity is predicted to wake up. And once the helicopter takes off, it must navigate rugged and relatively uncharted terrain, landing in areas that can be fraught with danger.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is seen here at the start of its 47th flight to Mars. The video was captured by the Mastcam-Z imager aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover on March 9, 2023. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
“We’re not in Martian Kansas anymore,” said Josh Anderson, head of Ingenuity operations at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We were flying over the dry remains of an ancient river full of sand, boulders, and rocks, and surrounded by hills that could have lunched us. And while we recently upgraded the navigation software onboard to help identify safe airfields, every flight is still a white-knuckler.”
Frequent Flyer
Beyond tackling more challenging terrain, Ingenuity will also fly more frequently in the coming days because the helicopter needs to stay within electronic earshot of the rover. With its AutoNav capability, Perseverance can travel hundreds of meters per day.
“The intelligence relies on Persistence to act as a communication between it and the mission controllers here at JPL,” Anderson said. “If the rover gets too far ahead or gets lost behind a hill, we can lose communication. The rover team has a job to do and a schedule to keep. So Ingenuity needs to keep going and be as ahead as possible. “
Persistence recently completed the discovery of “Foel Drygarn,” a science target that may contain hydrated silica (of strong astrobiological interest). It is currently headed for “Mount Julian,” which will provide a panoramic view of the nearby Belva Crater.
Illustration of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter on Mars. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Intellectual Abilities
Built with many off-the-shelf components, such as smartphone processors and cameras, Ingenuity is now 23 Earth months and 45 flights beyond its expected lifetime. The rotorcraft flew for more than 89 minutes and more than 7.1 miles (11.6 kilometers).
“When we first flew, we thought we were incredibly lucky to get five flights out,” said Teddy Tzanetos, leader of the Ingenuity team at JPL. “We exceeded our expected cumulative flight time since our technology demonstration by 1,250% and expected distance flown by 2,214%.”
However, exceeding expectations like this comes at a cost. With some parts of the helicopter showing signs of wear and tear and the terrain becoming increasingly difficult, the Ingenuity team recognizes that every great mission must come to an end. “We’ve come a long way, and we want to go further,” said Tzanetos. “But we’ve known from the beginning that our time on Mars is limited, and every operational day is a blessing. Whether Ingenuity’s mission ends tomorrow, next week, or months from now is something that cannot be predicted anyone at the moment. My guess is that when it does, we’re going to have one heck of a party.
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter performs a slow spin of its blades, on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This image was captured by the Navigation Cameras on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
More About Ingenuity
JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) built the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and manages the project on behalf of NASA Headquarters. Support for the effort comes from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, along with NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, which contribute significant flight performance analysis and technical guidance during the development of Ingenuity. Companies such as AeroVironment Inc., Qualcomm, and SolAero also lent their design expertise and supplied key vehicle components. The Mars Helicopter Delivery System was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Space.
At the helm of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter program at NASA Headquarters is Dave Lavery, who serves as program executive.
