Ingenuity, the determined Mars helicopter, plans to continue soaring

Ingenuity, the small helicopter that has defied expectations by successfully completing 55 flights on Mars since April 2021, will continue its mission of mapping the planet’s surface, according to the former team lead at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The helicopter, which cost $80 million to develop, has proven its robustness and reliability, and its success has led to the development of a recovery helicopter to collect geological samples from Mars.

Under the management of Ted Tzanetos, the team responsible for Ingenuity is now building a full-scale prototype for testing in September. This is part of NASA’s effort to utilize lightweight helicopters to retrieve Martian samples for transport back to Earth. The Sample Retrieval Lander is set to launch in 2028, with the goal of settling near the Jezero Crater and the river delta, where the Perseverance rover landed.

The original plan involved using Perseverance to transfer the geological payload directly to the retrieval lander. However, this would require complex maneuvering and pose potential risks. With Ingenuity’s success, it has become clear that helicopters can play a critical role in the mission, ensuring a safer and more efficient retrieval process.

Despite initial fears of Ingenuity’s demise, the helicopter surprised the team by phoning home via the Perseverance rover on June 28. After some minor setbacks, subsequent flights have demonstrated Ingenuity’s continued strength and capability. It has covered a total distance of 41,024 feet and stayed in the air for nearly 98 minutes across its 55 flights.

With the problem of flight stability solved, engineers are now focusing on demonstrating seamless coordination between Perseverance and Ingenuity. This collaboration is crucial for the sample recovery operations, as new helicopters, slightly larger and equipped with more advanced instruments, are being developed to work together with Perseverance in identifying and verifying the location of sample containers.

Flying a helicopter on Mars presented significant challenges due to the planet’s thin atmosphere. However, Ingenuity’s success has shown that it is possible with specially designed carbon fiber blades spinning at high speeds. The innovation opens up the possibility of making historic discoveries in the Jezero Crater, where water and favorable temperatures in the past indicate the potential for past microbial life.

The sample recovery mission is scheduled for 2030, with a two-year cruise to Mars and the return of the collected samples to Earth by 2032 or 2033. However, this ambitious endeavor requires international cooperation, particularly with the European Space Agency, as multiple launches and complex logistical operations are necessary for a successful Mars Sample Return campaign.