NASA conducts first aircraft accident investigation on Mars

NASA has completed its first aircraft accident investigation on Mars, focusing on the Ingenuity helicopter, which has been grounded since its last flight in January 2024. Originally designed for five test flights, Ingenuity completed 72 flights over nearly three years. During its final flight, Ingenuity experienced severe damage to its rotor blades, likely due to navigation system failures. The helicopter had been operating well beyond its initial expectations, flying over 30 times farther than planned. Despite being grounded, Ingenuity continues to send weather and avionics data to the Perseverance rover weekly. The investigation's findings aim to improve future Mars helicopters and aircraft for other planets.