WASHINGTON: NASA has encountered a communication loss with its mini-helicopter, Ingenuity, during its 72nd flight on Mars, announced the space agency. Engineers are currently engaged in efforts to re-establish contact after communication abruptly ceased on Thursday during Ingenuity’s descent from a test flight.
Ingenuity, resembling a large drone, arrived on Mars in 2021 alongside the rover Perseverance and achieved the historic feat of becoming the first motorized craft to autonomously fly on another planet. The helicopter’s flight data is transmitted back to Earth via the Perseverance rover.
During its flight on Thursday—a brief vertical ascent to inspect the helicopter’s systems following an unplanned early landing in its previous flight—Ingenuity successfully reached an altitude of 40 feet (12 meters). However, communication between the helicopter and rover terminated prematurely during the planned descent.
NASA Team Currently Analyzing Available Data
NASA reported that the Ingenuity team is currently analyzing available data and exploring next steps to restore communication. The space agency mentioned that Perseverance, temporarily out of line-of-sight with Ingenuity, could potentially drive closer for a visual inspection.
This is not the first time NASA has lost contact with the Mars helicopter; a similar incident occurred for a two-month period last year. Ingenuity, weighing only four pounds (1.8 kilograms), has surpassed its original mission goal of completing five flights over 30 days on the Martian surface.
To date, the miniature rotorcraft has covered over 10 miles (17 kilometers) and reached altitudes of up to 79 feet (24 meters). Its impressive longevity is particularly noteworthy, considering it must endure extremely cold Martian nights and relies on solar panels to recharge its batteries during daylight hours.
Working in tandem with Perseverance, Ingenuity has served as an aerial scout, aiding its rover companion in the search for potential signs of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet.
