Ingenuity, mars helicopter from NASA crushes expected flight numbers

Ingenuity, the 19-inch-tall robotic helicopter on Mars, isn’t solely the primary automobile to make a powered, managed flight on one other planet – it’s persevering with to fly, exceeding all expectations by surviving harsh temperatures, mud within the ambiance, and a two-month communications blackout.

In 54 flights since April 19, 2021, the craft has flown about an hour and a half, masking a distance of about 8 miles in zigzag paths 30 toes or extra above the Martian floor.

That is far past its major mission as a expertise demonstration of solely 5 flights, totaling lower than seven minutes and a distance of a few third of a mile. Flight 55 is being deliberate.