NASA has achieved a significant milestone by re-establishing communication with its miniature helicopter on Mars, Ingenuity, alleviating concerns over a potential end to its mission. The unexpected outage occurred during the craft’s 72nd lift-off on Mars, prompting NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to take swift action.
Ingenuity, a drone standing at approximately 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) tall, made history as the first motorized craft to autonomously fly on another planet after its arrival on Mars in 2021 aboard the rover Perseverance.
Late on Saturday, NASA’s JPL announced the positive development on social media, stating, “Good news today.” Contact with the helicopter was re-established by instructing Perseverance to conduct “long-duration listening sessions for Ingenuity’s signal.”
While the team is currently analyzing the new data to understand the unexpected communication dropout during Flight 72, NASA remains optimistic about the helicopter’s future operations. Ingenuity had reached an altitude of 40 feet (12 meters) during Flight 72, a brief vertical flight to assess the craft’s systems following an unplanned early landing in its previous flight.
During the descent, communication between Ingenuity and Perseverance terminated early, prompting further investigation. The JPL had mentioned on Friday that Perseverance was temporarily out of line-of-sight with Ingenuity, but the possibility of driving closer for a visual inspection was being considered.
Responding to inquiries about Ingenuity’s ability to fly again, the JPL emphasized that a thorough assessment of the new data is required before determining the helicopter’s next steps.
Ingenuity has faced communication challenges before, including a two-month loss of contact last year. Despite such obstacles, the miniature rotorcraft has surpassed its initial goal of five flights over 30 days on Mars. It has covered over 10 miles (17 kilometers) and reached altitudes of up to 79 feet (24 meters).
The remarkable longevity of Ingenuity is a testament to its resilience in surviving the harsh conditions of Martian nights, relying on solar panels to recharge its batteries during daylight hours. Working alongside Perseverance, Ingenuity has played a crucial role as an aerial scout, aiding in the search for potential signs of ancient microbial life on the red planet.
