Ingenuity has done a good job since coming to the red planet
. He will therefore have the chance to continue his mission for at least a few more months in the company of the rover. Perseverance
.
NASA confirmed the information this week through a press release.
A duo made to last
On February 18, 2021, Ingenuity and Perseverance were deployed to Mars. The helicopter was originally intended to be used to demonstrate its flight capabilities in the atmosphere of our neighbor Earth. It was also the first powered flight performed on another planet. And since these tests went perfectly, NASA decided to go a little further.
In the 22 flights it’s been able to complete since arriving on Mars, Ingenuity has pushed its capabilities over longer distances while supporting the Perseverance rover as it explores Jezero Crater. And since this fine team has proven to be extremely effective, a new perilous mission awaits them.
A real challenge
Ingenuity, which will ultimately remain in operation until at least September 2022, will soon fly over the Jezero River Delta. It’s a tall order that awaits the helicopter and the rover on the ground since this environment is littered with inclined surfaces, sharp rocks and other pockets full of sand. The slightest mistake could be fatal, but the two robots have already proven their complementarity in the past.
Thus, Ingenuity will have to guide Perseverance in this hostile setting, to say the least. The data collected during these flights will be valuable for the design of future Martian vehicles. During its last outing lasting 101.4 seconds on March 20, 2022, the flying robot reached a maximum altitude of 10 meters.
Source: TechCrunch
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