NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has successfully completed its 52nd flight on April 26, despite facing communication issues during the landing. The helicopter lost contact with mission controllers as it descended toward the Martian surface due to challenging terrain that obstructed the signal between it and the Perseverance rover.
However, contact with the helicopter was re-established on June 28 when the rover crested the hill and could see Ingenuity again. The temporary blackout was anticipated by the Ingenuity team, who had already developed re-contact plans for when the rover would drive back within range.
The 52nd flight, which lasted 139 seconds and covered a distance of 1,191 feet, aimed to reposition the helicopter and capture images of the Martian surface for the rover’s science team. Despite the communication dropout and the rough terrain in Jezero Crater, where both the rover and helicopter are exploring, the mission is considered a success.
According to JPL’s Josh Anderson, the Ingenuity team lead, the goal is to keep Ingenuity ahead of Perseverance, which occasionally involves temporarily pushing beyond communication limits. The team is thrilled to be back in communications range with Ingenuity and receive confirmation of Flight 52.
After waiting for 63 days for the flight results, the data indicates that the helicopter is in excellent condition. Pending the completion of the remaining health checks, the Ingenuity may take to the sky again within the next couple of weeks.
The upcoming Flight 53 will target an interim airfield to the west, from where the team plans to perform another westward flight to a new base of operations near a rocky outcrop of interest to the Perseverance team.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter project is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on behalf of NASA Headquarters, with support from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Significant contributions during the development phase came from NASA’s Ames Research Center and NASA’s Langley Research Center, along with industry partners like AeroVironment Inc., Qualcomm, and SolAero. Lockheed Space was responsible for designing and manufacturing the Mars Helicopter Delivery System.
Overall, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter project continues to push the boundaries of exploration on the Red Planet, demonstrating the potential for future aerial missions on Mars.