NASA's Ingenuity helicopter crashes on Mars after 72 successful flights

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter crashed on Mars after its 72nd flight on January 18, 2024, due to a software glitch and challenging terrain. The helicopter, which flew far beyond its initial five-flight mission, lost stabilization mid-maneuver. Despite the crash, Ingenuity is considered a success, completing 72 flights and providing valuable data. It continues to send weather and test information to the Perseverance rover, aiding future Mars missions. NASA is now developing a new helicopter called the Mars Chopper. This larger, six-rotor aircraft will explore areas inaccessible to rovers and is designed using lessons learned from Ingenuity's performance.