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NASA Announces: Details of First Aircraft Crash on Another Planet Revealed

byadmin
December 13, 2024

NASA explained why the Ingenuity helicopter, which was designed to show that flying in the thin atmosphere of Mars was not possible, crashed.

NASA revealed the causes of the first aircraft crash on Mars. The NASA helicopter Ingenuity, which landed on Mars in 2021, made history as the first aircraft to fly on another planet.

Ingenuity, which was initially planned to make 5 flights in just 30 days, performed much better than expected, serving on the Red Planet for about 3 years and providing important data.

However, after its 72nd flight on January 18, 2024, the helicopter began to descend after rising from the ground for 19 seconds and crashed to the ground.
The helicopter, which could not take off again due to rotor failure, also experienced the first aircraft accident on a planet other than Earth.
NASA shared the findings of the investigation it conducted after the accident on December 11, 2024. Researchers stated that Ingenuity’s accident was caused by the relatively flat and flat surface of Mars. Ingenuity’s navigation system determined the point where the vehicle would land by examining the surrounding surface features. However, during this flight in a region of Jezero Crater filled with sand strips, it was determined that the system could not collect enough data due to the lack of surface features.
According to NASA’s statement, the data sent during the 72nd flight showed that the navigation system could not find enough surface features to follow approximately 20 seconds after takeoff. Ingenuity’s first pilot, Havard Grip, said, “Although there are multiple possibilities with the data we have, we think this scenario is the most likely option,” adding that the lack of surface texture caused the navigation system to work with limited information.
Ingenuity, which could not fly after the accident, continues to send important information from Mars, even though it has not moved. The data provided by the helicopter contributes to the development of other vehicles that will continue to explore the Red Planet. Although Ingenuity cannot communicate directly, it transmits this information to Earth via the Mars rover named Perseverance.
The NASA team presented the research results at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union on December 11, 2024, and also shared details about Ingenuity’s successor. The new helicopter, which has not yet entered the development phase, is intended to carry scientific equipment weighing a few kilograms and travel up to 3 kilometers in a day.
NASA sheds light on future Mars helicopter projects with the data obtained from Ingenuity’s success. This new helicopter will be designed to travel longer distances and collect more scientific data. NASA believes that these developments will usher in a new era in Mars exploration.
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