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What We Learned from Flying a Helicopter on Mars

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made history – not only as the first aircraft to perform powered, controlled flight on another world – but also for exceeding expectations, pushing the limits, and setting the stage for future NASA aerial exploration of other worlds.

Built as a technology demonstration designed to perform up to five experimental test flights over 30 days, Ingenuity performed flight operations from the Martian surface for almost three years. The helicopter ended its mission on Jan. 25, 2024, after sustaining damage to its rotor blades during its 72nd flight.

So, what did we learn from this small but mighty helicopter?

We can fly rotorcraft in the thin atmosphere of other planets.

Ingenuity proved that powered, controlled flight is possible on other worlds when it took to the Martian skies for the first time on April 19, 2021.

Flying on planets like Mars is no easy feat: The Red Planet has a significantly lower gravity – one-third that of Earth’s – and an extremely thin atmosphere, with only 1% the pressure at the surface compared to our planet. This means there are relatively few air molecules with which Ingenuity’s two 4-foot-wide (1.2-meter-wide) rotor blades can interact to achieve flight.

Ingenuity performed several flights dedicated to understanding key aerodynamic effects and how they interact with the structure and control system of the helicopter, providing us with a treasure-trove of data on how aircraft fly in the Martian atmosphere.

Now, we can use this knowledge to directly improve performance and reduce risk on future planetary aerial vehicles.

Creative solutions and “ingenuity” kept the helicopter flying longer than expected.

Over an extended mission that lasted for almost 1,000 Martian days (more than 33 times longer than originally planned), Ingenuity was upgraded with the ability to autonomously choose landing sites in treacherous terrain, dealt with a dead sensor, dusted itself off after dust storms, operated from 48 different airfields, performed three emergency landings, and survived a frigid Martian winter.

Fun fact: To keep costs low, the helicopter contained many off-the-shelf-commercial parts from the smartphone industry - parts that had never been tested in deep space. Those parts also surpassed expectations, proving durable throughout Ingenuity’s extended mission, and can inform future budget-conscious hardware solutions.

There is value in adding an aerial dimension to interplanetary surface missions.

Ingenuity traveled to Mars on the belly of the Perseverance rover, which served as the communications relay for Ingenuity and, therefore, was its constant companion. The helicopter also proved itself a helpful scout to the rover.

After its initial five flights in 2021, Ingenuity transitioned to an “operations demonstration,” serving as Perseverance’s eyes in the sky as it scouted science targets, potential rover routes, and inaccessible features, while also capturing stereo images for digital elevation maps.

Airborne assets like Ingenuity unlock a new dimension of exploration on Mars that we did not yet have – providing more pixels per meter of resolution for imaging than an orbiter and exploring locations a rover cannot reach.

Tech demos can pay off big time.

Ingenuity was flown as a technology demonstration payload on the Mars 2020 mission, and was a high risk, high reward, low-cost endeavor that paid off big. The data collected by the helicopter will be analyzed for years to come and will benefit future Mars and other planetary missions.

Just as the Sojourner rover led to the MER-class (Spirit and Opportunity) rovers, and the MSL-class (Curiosity and Perseverance) rovers, the team believes Ingenuity’s success will lead to future fleets of aircraft at Mars.

In general, NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions test and advance new technologies, and then transition those capabilities to NASA missions, industry, and other government agencies. Chosen technologies are thoroughly ground- and flight-tested in relevant operating environments — reducing risks to future flight missions, gaining operational heritage and continuing NASA’s long history as a technological leader.

You can fall in love with robots on another planet.

Following in the tracks of beloved Martian rovers, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter built up a worldwide fanbase. The Ingenuity team and public awaited every single flight with anticipation, awe, humor, and hope.

Check out #ThanksIngenuity on social media to see what’s been said about the helicopter’s accomplishments.

Learn more about Ingenuity’s accomplishments here. And make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

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Silent_Histories from onajide shabaka on Vimeo.

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“The association’s biggest prize, the Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement, has been awarded to Samella Lewis, an artist and scholar. Lewis was mentored by Elizabeth Catlett and Charles White, whom she met while studying at Dillard University in New Orleans, and she is best known for creating a vast number of figurative works on paper that depict various aspects of the Black experience in the United States.” #africandiaspora #artists #arthistorians (at Anderson Ranch Arts Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLQjAAkrYh3/?igshid=10o5png204g0w

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At work making a maquette and staying focused on work. I will get outdoors later. There is plenty of time for relaxation before departing. #andersonranchartscenter #wip #drawing #serpentine (at Snowmass Village, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK_iUBKrH9t/?igshid=ev9r4565f582

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“This is how it started...” #sculpture #miamidadeartinpublicplaces #miamidadearts (at Opa-Lochka Airport, Miami) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKrh-3MLG2f/?igshid=1lc9ekhbypq8r

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“Viewing both worlds of air and water we see potential pleasures in both. Some species have come to dominate both worlds over millennia. We don’t know all that have passed that permeable barrier between the two.” #evergladesnationalpark #airieverglades #filmstill #airiefellow #nature #wateryperspective (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKH5xk9LOtx/?igshid=6dkg02es9ngp

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“As above, so below.” The water is clear until it gets stirred up (by human intervention). Flamingos and roseate spoonbills also stir up the water to feed on small crustaceans, although in a different habitat. Can you name 7 different Everglades habitats? Name some please! #evergladesnationalpark #airiefellow #airieverglades #florida #cypress #water (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJTUc1qrhQ7/?igshid=11ulzja5c4m82

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“Seeing something new and different in the Everglades with at least seven habitats. But, how many times have you, or anyone you know, stuck their head underwater to see that world? I have been really surprised with these amazing views.” #evergladesnationalpark #airieverglades #airiefellow #water #florida #botanicals (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJOF-bwLPGP/?igshid=s54lownrzebf

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“Water, being both a barrier and passageway, allows me to travel through time and space. How the journey unfolds has many possibilities that we hope to had prepared for as best we can knowing failure is always in front of us at some point. Failure, or just an obstruction?” #evergladesnationalpark #airieverglades #airiefellow #florida #water (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJLzKXDrE6-/?igshid=fvv9oh63fgvs

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“Through the clouds the sun rises with a color of fire while the morning birds call back and forth across the forest’s canopy.” #evergladesnationalpark #airieverglades #florida #sunrise #airiefellow (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJDzRBLrKUu/?igshid=bhmebmrjxsyx

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Indoors... #evergladesnationalpark #airieverglades #florida #macro (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CI2-pOKLXEG/?igshid=90x4hgbj3hr2

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Wasp nest. Spider eggs. #evergladesnationalpark #florida #insects #airieverglades #macro https://www.instagram.com/p/CIyrAZ9L9gf/?igshid=64p5bmb8hdjz

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Dried leaf. #evergladesnationalpark #airie #botanicals #florida #wildplants #nature #macro (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIvmxr3LSx2/?igshid=14g2ls2d04fzw

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Most visitors are looking for alligators. With a diverse eco environment I’m looking at many things. One thing I don’t hear rangers talk about are fungi. Who is interested in that subject anyway other than some science geek(s)? “Fungi amenable to culture were obtained from coastal and oceanic waters collected in the northwestern subtropical Atlantic Ocean. Eulittoral samples uniformly demonstrated relatively high mold populations of diverse speciation.” #evergladesnationalpark #airie #florida #fungi #lichens #mushrooms #nature (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIvWr5ZrEDk/?igshid=2syx8ov3i0kt

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Visited a few days ago with @airie Board Chair, @valeriegracericordi was Mahogany Hammock, an elevated boardwalk around a hardwood hammock. Although we didn’t see owls, they have inhabited this space for a good number of years. #evergladesnationalpark #airie #florida #mahoganyhammock (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIsoUUSrdZ7/?igshid=ps7v9u80sj9t

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Picturesque sunset yesterday evening after meetings. #evergladesnationalpark #airie #florida #nature (at Everglades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIiSDwTLF5z/?igshid=akm9xxyz7dbd

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Nike Hercules missile site looking inside the nose one guidance system. #evergladesnationalpark #florida #airie https://www.instagram.com/p/CIfvBNgLrrc/?igshid=6lmb1ybqhqnz