After an impressive run of 72 flights and covering a distance of 17 kilometers, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has completed its final flight on Mars. The news came after the helicopter sustained damage to one of its rotor blades during its last flight, marking the end of its groundbreaking mission.
Ingenuity’s journey began three years ago in the Jezero Crater, where it took off for its first flight. It has since become the first aircraft to achieve controlled and powered flight on another planet, providing the science team with access to landscapes that were previously inaccessible to rovers. This feat has opened up new possibilities for future exploration and paved the way for aerial exploration on other celestial bodies.
The final flight took Ingenuity to Neretva Vallis, a channel that once carried water into an ancient lake. It is a fitting location for the helicopter’s last moments, as it symbolizes the connection between Mars’ past and present. The Ingenuity team has even given this spot the nickname “Valinor Hills,” inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional location in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
As Ingenuity bids farewell, NASA’s Perseverance rover continues its mission on Mars. The rover recently captured a mosaic image of Ingenuity at its final airfield, marking a poignant moment in their journey together. Perseverance drove within approximately 450 meters of the helicopter, which is likely the closest they will be for the remainder of the mission. The opportunity was seized to acquire long-distance imagery of Ingenuity using Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z instrument.
While the end of Ingenuity’s mission is bittersweet, Perseverance is entering an exciting phase of its own exploration. The rover is currently exploring the margin unit, an area on the edge of Jezero Crater that exhibits strong signatures of carbonate minerals. The science team has been utilizing SuperCam LIBS and VISIR observations to study a pitted rock named Porkchop Geyser and capturing Mastcam-Z images of a rubbly outcrop called Muiron Island. These observations provide valuable insights into Mars’ geological history and help scientists piece together the planet’s past.
As Perseverance continues its journey westward, the team is eagerly preparing for what lies ahead. Orbital imagery of the crater rim has revealed massive blocks known as ‘megabreccia,’ which are believed to have originated from the impact that created Jezero Crater or even older rocks ejected from the Isidis Basin to the east. The crater rim holds the promise of uncovering a period of Mars’ history that no rover has ever witnessed before, making it an exciting prospect for the science team.
While it is a somber moment to bid farewell to Ingenuity, the future remains bright for Perseverance and its mission on Mars. The rover’s exploration of the mysterious crater rim holds the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and furthering our understanding of the Red Planet. The science team is filled with anticipation and high spirits as they embark on this new chapter of their mission, ready to uncover the secrets that Mars has yet to reveal.
