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[Mars] Ingenuity helicopter down after 72 flights.

https://www.space.com/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-mission-ends
[quote] [c=#000000]NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has flown its last flight after suffering rotor damage
News
By Mike Wall
published 3 days ago

'The historic journey of Ingenuity, the first aircraft on another planet, has come to end.'

NASA's pioneering helicopter Ingenuity has made its final Mars flight.

Ingenuity — the first-ever robot to ply the skies of an alien world — suffered rotor-blade damage during its most recent hop and "is no longer capable of flight," NASA announced today (Jan. 25).

"The historic journey of Ingenuity, the first aircraft on another planet, has come to an end," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in an agency statement.

"That remarkable helicopter flew higher and farther than we ever imagined and helped NASA do what we do best — make the impossible, possible," Nelson added. "Through missions like Ingenuity, NASA is paving the way for future flight in our solar system and smarter, safer human exploration to Mars and beyond."


This image, which shows the shadow of a damaged rotor on NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, was taken after its 72nd and final flight on Jan. 18, 2024 on the Red Planet. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Ingenuity landed alongside NASA's Perseverance rover on the floor of Mars' Jezero Crater in February 2021.

The 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) chopper was tasked with demonstrating that powered flight is indeed possible on Mars despite the planet's thin atmosphere — it promptly did so during a five-flight campaign that spring.

NASA then granted Ingenuity an extended mission, which saw the rotorcraft serve as a scout for the life-hunting, sample-collecting Perseverance. Ingenuity conducted a whopping 67 flights during this new campaign, far exceeding the expectations of the mission's scientists and engineers.[/c] [/quote]
[media=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EIYYiuhKIHg]

Must mention this helicopter wasn't expected to fly more than 5 missions.
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sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
Amazing.

So while we're on the subject of Mars ... Do you think Elon will succeed in building his colony?? Personally, I hope so. 😁
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@sarabee1995 he'll build it alright, but at the sake of the lower class. They won't even get be allowed in the factory.

Those that can't pay won't be on the moon much less Mars. It's not even a matter of abilities. He won't pay for anyone's education either. His no better than Trump in that aspect. He is just as arrogant.

Why did he move from California to Texas with his Tesla factory? It's more than just wages. It's taxes, environmental factors and unions with safety factors he trying to avoid.

He could care less about people. And space will bring up factors that are just not a concern on the earth. Like how the lack of gravity affects anyones body. Or the air that they must breathe or die from hypoxia if they can't afford it.

It was a huge mistake to go private enterprise on space this soon. Yet we are there already. Too late now.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@DeWayfarer Sorry I asked. Didn't mean to trigger so much angst.
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@sarabee1995 I'm not a fan of his in many ways. Sorry.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@DeWayfarer I get it. I was just asking about Mars though. Not about him. Not about social justice. Just about the fact that we might have a colony on another planet within our lifetimes and that is way cool. But I get. 😔
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
@sarabee1995 I am a huge science fiction fan. And people like him have already been predicted.

Read Heinlein. He is one of the enemies of society. And even he puts it mildly. TANSTAAFL <- Heinlein coined this mishmash.