Why did NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter Crash on Mars? Experts Have the Answer
"When running an accident investigation from 100 million miles away, you don't have any black boxes!" NASA's Håvard Grip said.
NASA video shows its next Martian helicopter soaring over Mars
After over 70 flights, the Ingenuity helicopter — the first craft to ever make a powered, controlled flight on another planet — crashed in the Martian dunes in January 2024. But its unexpected achievement (engineers hoped it might make five flights) has prompted the conceptual design and planning for what the agency calls its "Mars Chopper."
The First Helicopter Crash on Mars: NASA Pinpoints What Went Wrong During Ingenuity’s Final Flight
Ingenuity ultimately operated for nearly three years and performed 72 flights over that span. On its final flight, the helicopter climbed to 40 feet (12 meters) above the Martian surface, but after 32 seconds, the chopper was back on the ground and communications had stopped.
NASA explains why Mars helicopter Ingenuity crashed on its 72nd flight
The first aircraft to achieve a powered, controlled flight on another planet, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, crashed on Mars 11 months ago when its navigation system became befuddled by a bland, featureless stretch of terrain and slammed so hard into the Martian surface that the tips of its rotor blades snapped.
Ingenuity: How remains of humanity’s first Mars helicopter will help NASA
The investigation suggests that a failure in Ingenuity's navigation system led to a hard landing, causing the mission to end.
Lessons learned from Ingenuity Mars helicopter will play into designs for follow-on craft
Engineers now say they understand the most likely cause of the Ingenuity helicopter's crash landing on Mars earlier this year ...
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Stealth Helicopters: Why Doesn't the U.S. Military Have This Weapon?
Stealth Helicopters: Why Doesn't the U.S. Military Have This Weapon? Stealth technology has reshaped modern air combat, but helicopters remain largely outside this trend due to challenges like ...