NASA’s Next-Generation Space Helicopters Prepare to Take Flight as Ingenuity Comes to an End
Last week marked the end of an era for NASA’s groundbreaking Ingenuity rotorcraft, the 3.5-pound helicopter-like robot that made history by collecting samples on Mars. After 72 successful flights and surpassing all expectations, Ingenuity’s final flight ended in a crash. However, NASA and the European Space Agency are already looking ahead to the next generation of space helicopters.
The successor to Ingenuity is more robust and equipped with a new dual-rotor system and carbon-fiber blades that can reach speeds close to Mach 1. This next-generation helicopter has been undergoing rigorous testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California, inside the agency’s 25-foot space simulator. With at least 66 test flights under its belt, this new craft is ready to take on its predecessor’s mission.
Ingenuity made history as the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet. Originally planned for only five flights, it exceeded expectations by flying 14 times farther than anticipated and logging over two hours of airtime during its successful missions on Mars.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed mixed emotions as he announced Ingenuity’s final flight. He compared the craft’s achievements to those of the Wright brothers in 1903, stating that Ingenuity’s accomplishments far exceeded what was thought possible. Nelson emphasized that missions like Ingenuity pave the way for future flight in our solar system and contribute to smarter and safer human exploration of Mars and beyond.
The fatal blow to Ingenuity came when its carbon fiber wings sustained damage during a landing. The thin atmosphere on Mars, which is just 1% as dense as Earth’s, posed a challenge for the craft’s lift. NASA is investigating the possibility that the rotor blade struck the ground.
Despite Ingenuity’s end, hopes are high for the next generation of helicopters on Mars. NASA has developed Sample Recovery Helicopters (SRH), which are similar in size to Ingenuity but feature new dual, carbon-fiber rotors with a slightly longer wingspan. These helicopters are stronger and designed for higher speeds. They have already undergone extensive testing, benefiting from the data collected by Ingenuity during its missions.
Tyler Del Sesto, NASA’s deputy test conductor for the SRH, expressed confidence in the new fleet after witnessing their performance in the space simulator. The blades of the SRH were spun up to 3,500 rpm, surpassing the speed achieved by Ingenuity’s blades by 750 revolutions per minute. Del Sesto stated that these more efficient blades are no longer just a hypothetical exercise; they are ready to fly.
The SRH will be powered by solar panels that charge their internal batteries. Equipped with grabber arms and ground-ready wheels, these helicopters will be deployed near the Perseverance rover’s landing site in the Jerezo Crater. The plan is for the SRH to launch from Earth in 2028, arrive on Mars in 2030, and return to Earth with Martian samples by 2033.
To ensure a safe landing on Mars, NASA is also developing a new lander called the Sample Retrieval Lander. This lander, about the size of an average two-car garage and weighing 7,440 pounds, will carry two of the SRH. It will also be the first lander to bring along a rocket, NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle. Once the lander arrives on Mars, the Perseverance rover will transport its collection of Martian sample tubes to the Sample Retrieval Lander. The SRH will then take off and collect any sample tubes left behind by Perseverance.
The SRH is not the only exciting project in the works. The Dragonfly mission aims to send a car-sized nuclear-powered drone to Saturn’s moon Titan. This ambitious mission, led by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, has a readiness date set for July 2028. Dragonfly recently completed impressive tests in a Titan testing chamber, demonstrating its readiness to explore the moon’s icy surface.
Elizabeth Turtle, the principal investigator for Dragonfly, described the mission as a daring endeavor unlike anything done before. She expressed confidence in the project’s progress and emphasized the team’s curiosity and creativity in bringing Dragonfly to this point.
While 2028 may seem far away, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab has provided a YouTube video that guides viewers in building their own functional paper tribute to Ingenuity. In the meantime, the JPL crew bid farewell to the small-but-mighty Martian-copter in a touching tribute video.
Space exploration continues to push boundaries and inspire new innovations. With the next generation of space helicopters and the Dragonfly mission on the horizon, humanity’s quest for knowledge and exploration reaches new heights.
