This is getting repetitive. The Ingenuity copter is still flying. : - )
Ingenuity has completed 66 flights—out of the originally planned "if it works once it will be a success". : - )
In September, Ingenuity was captured by the Perseverance rover as it flew for 142 seconds, reaching 20 meters altitude.
By now, NASA is pretty far along dreaming up and designing future missions, many of which will include copters.
This fall DC Agle, Alana Johnson, and Karen Fox discuss the ongoing design processes which, as they put it, are proceeding on two planets simultaneously [1]. (NASA has the absolute best projects!)
"For the first time in history, two planets have been home to testing future aircraft designs."
(From [1])
There is nothing like having in situ experience, actually flying an actual copter on Mars. This has informed Earth-based experiments, in simulated Martian environments.
Abel et al. describe Ingenuity as "Martian Chuck Yeager-ing", as the teams try things out step-by-step. Ingenuity has set new altitude records (24 meters) and speed records (10 meters per second). It also demonstrated slower landing speeds, which would allow lighter landing gear.
This test flying is even more nerve wracking than "normal" Chuck Yeager-ing, because the humans are millions of kilometers away, and repair (or even post mortem examination) is not an option.
Brilliant work, all.
- DC Agle, Alana Johnson, and Karen Fox, NASA Uses Two Worlds to Test Future Mars Helicopter Designs, in MASA JPL - News, November 22, 2023. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-uses-two-worlds-to-test-future-mars-helicopter-designs
Robot Wednesday
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