NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured its companion Ingenuity Mars helicopter using the SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager instrument on February 25, 2024.
The SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager instrument, which is mounted on the “head” of the rover’s long-necked mast, acquired this image on the Martian morning at the local mean solar time of 10:36:28.
The image shows the Ingenuity Mars helicopter sitting on Martian sand dunes, and its left rotor blade is completely broken.
On February 4, 2024, the Mastcam-Z camera of the Perseverance rover captured the helicopter sitting on the Martian sand dunes, where the broken rotor blade was not clearly identified.
Related article: The Mastcam-Z camera of Perseverance rover spots Mars helicopter sitting alone on sand dunes
Since January 18, 2024, the Mars Ingenuity helicopter has been sitting on the Martian sand dunes because it is no longer able to fly.
On January 18, 2024, during its final flight, the helicopter made an emergency landing. As a result, the helicopter’s rotor blade was broken.
Related article: NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter mission ends due to damage of rotor blade on its last flight
On January 25, 2024, NASA announced the end of Ingenuity’s mission, which was flying Martian air from April 19, 2021.
Ingenuity was the first helicopter that was able to fly in the skies of another planet. Due to the honor of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, the final resting place of Ingenuity is named “Valinor Hills,” meaning “the Undying Lands.”
Related article: Mars helicopter’s final resting place named after the fictional location in ‘The Lord of the Rings’
NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars along with its companion Ingenuity Mars helicopter on February 18, 2021. Currently, the rover is only operating on Mars.
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