With 21 Flights Under its Belt, Ingenuity is Getting a Mission Extension

After completing its 21st mission and being on the planet for a little over a year, Ingenuity has officially extended its mission.

Perseverance, Ingenuity's rover companion, is transitioning into its second scientific campaign, where it plans to travel 130 meters up from the Jezero crater floor to a dried-up river delta.

It will likely take three separate flights to get to a new staging area in the river delta.

It will continue its own exploration program, including looking for geological features of interest and scouting landing zones for the eventual Mars Sample Return mission that will be landing in the same general area to pick up the samples Perseverance has collected along its way.

The helicopter's previous maximum height was 50 meters. The ability to change speeds and adjust better to changes in terrain is just one of the improvements.

I remember thinking when this all started that we would be lucky to have three entries in my logbook.

The helicopter has traveled almost 3 miles and spent 38 minutes in the air. It's time for them to keep going.

You can learn more.

The Ingenuity Helicopter Mission has been extended by NASA.

Perseverance and ingenuity have been on Mars for a year.

Helicopters on Mars are glowing.

Ingenuity has spent 30 minutes on Mars.