NASA to Give Ingenuity's Blades a Little 'Wiggle' After Losing Contact With Perseverance Rover

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 01 February 2024, 01:02 pm

In a heartfelt tribute livestream dedicated to NASA's Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, the space agency left the world with more questions than answers.

A week after officially concluding the groundbreaking mission, NASA is on a mission of a different kind - understanding what went awry during Ingenuity's final flight on the Red Planet.

Blades in Distress: NASA Gives Little Wiggle

NASA to Give Ingenuity's Blades a Little 'Wiggle' After Losing Contact With Perseverance Rover — (Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The previous flights of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars were successful. However, its most recent one appears to be a fatal malfunction, forcing NASA to give its blades a little "wiggle."

The mission team, unwilling to bid farewell without understanding the full story, revealed plans to rotate Ingenuity's blades and give them a gentle "wiggle."

As first reported by Space.com, the meticulous adjustment aims to uncover the extent of the damage sustained during the helicopter's 72nd landing on Mars.

Shockingly, the agency disclosed that all four blades of the historic aircraft suffered damage, which only made its condition worse than first thought.

Detective Work at JPL: Unraveling the Clues

The brilliant minds at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are deep into the investigation, striving to decipher the cryptic events leading to the blade damage.

Theories abound, suggesting that Ingenuity's power may have fluctuated during its final landing or that it encountered an unforeseen impact on the Martian surface. Ingenuity Project Manager Teddy Tzanetos believes it might have hit the land, resulting in an extreme voltage drop.

Ingenuity's Unexpected Odyssey on the Red Planet

Originally conceived for a modest five test flights over 30 days, Ingenuity surpassed all expectations. The small Martian chopper defied limitations, embarking on an astonishing 72 flights and covering a distance 14 times greater than initially planned. Its cumulative flight time of two hours marked a historic achievement in planetary exploration.

When Martian Silence Echoed Heartbreak

The turning point arrived during flight 72 on Jan. 18 when Ingenuity lost communication with its companion, the Perseverance rover, Gizmodo notes. The rover, instrumental in relaying communications to Earth, suddenly found itself unable to connect with the resilient helicopter.

On a follow-up, a subsequent image revealed the devastating truth - Ingenuity's blades were damaged, spelling the end of its extraordinary Martian sojourn.

Ingenuity's Legacy: Paving the Martian Skies

Despite the bittersweet conclusion, Ingenuity's legacy is etched in history. As the first powered aircraft to soar above another planet's surface, it opened new frontiers for aerial exploration.

"We couldn't be prouder or happier with how our little baby has done," Tzanetos said on livestream.

Serving as a trusted companion to the Perseverance rover, Ingenuity's aerial perspectives and guidance showcased the potential of helicopters in future planetary endeavors.

In the quest for answers, NASA is still optimistic that one day, it will be able to unravel the mysteries of Ingenuity's final flight. This is the newest challenge that the team needs to solve to continue seeking scientific answers about Mars' habitability.

In another space-related report, scientists anticipate the free fall of a hazardous asteroid on Friday, Feb. 2.

Despite its "football pitch size" and proximity to the planet, NASA says there's nothing to worry about since it will not enter the Earth's atmosphere.