Perseverance recently completed exploration of “Foel Drygarn,” a science target that may contain hydrated silica (which is of strong astrobiological significance). It is currently heading towards “Mont Julian”, which will provide a panoramic view of the nearby Belva crater.
feats of ingenuity
Built with many off-the-shelf components, such as smartphone processors and cameras, the Ingenuity is now 23 months on the ground and 45 flights past its expected life. The helicopter flew for over 89 minutes and over 7.1 miles (11.6 kilometers).
“When the plane first flew, we thought we would be incredibly lucky to complete five flights,” said Teddy Zanetos, chief creative officer at JPL. “We have exceeded our cumulative planned flight time since the end of our technology offering by 1,250% and planned distance by 2,214%.”
However, exceeding such expectations comes at a cost. With some helicopter components showing signs of wear and the terrain becoming increasingly difficult, the Ingenuity team knows that every great mission must eventually come to an end. “We have come a long way and we want to go further,” Zanetos said. “But we knew from the start that our time on Mars is limited, and every operational day is a blessing. Whether Ingenuity ends tomorrow, next week, or months from now is something no one can predict at this time. What I can predict is that when that happens, we’ll have one hell of a party.
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The Ingenuity Mars helicopter was built by JPL, which also manages the project for NASA Headquarters. It is supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California and NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia provided extensive flight performance analysis and technical assistance during the development of Ingenuity. AeroVironment Inc. Qualcomm and SolAero also help design and major vehicle components. Lockheed Space designed and manufactured Mars Helicopter Delivery System.
At NASA Headquarters, Dave Lavery is director of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Program.
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