NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which crashed on Mars during its 72nd flight in January 2024, may still be operational after all. The helicopter’s mission managers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) revealed that the aircraft could continue to function as a weather station for up to 20 years.
According to JPL scientists, Ingenuity’s avionics and battery sensors are still functional, allowing it to record telemetry, take images, and store data every Martian sol. The helicopter has around 20 years’ worth of onboard storage remaining, which could provide valuable insights into the Martian environment.
The crash was attributed to the helicopter’s navigation system being unable to determine its altitude due to the Martian surface’s featureless terrain. This caused the vehicle to tumble and snap off all four of its blades.
Despite the setback, Ingenuity proved to be a wildly successful technology demonstration. The helicopter successfully completed 72 flights and operated for over three years. JPL scientists are now looking towards the future of powered flight on Mars, with plans for a new six-rotor concept that could carry science equipment and autonomously explore remote Martian locations.
The ingenuity of NASA’s engineers is undeniable, as they have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of autonomous flying machines on other planets. Plans are already underway to build larger rotorcraft for future missions, including a car-size rotorcraft intended for Saturn’s moon Titan.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/mars-rovers/after-crashing-on-mars-nasas-ingenuity-helicopter-could-live-on-as-a-weather-station-for-20-years