Ingenuity Spots the Shadow of its Damaged Rotor Blade, now will never fly again

After its 72nd flight on Jan. 18, 2024, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter captured this color image showing the shadow of a rotor blade damaged during a rough landing. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the project for the agency. It is supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, provided significant flight performance analysis and technical assistance during Ingenuity’s development. AeroVironment Inc., Qualcomm, and SolAero also provided design assistance and major vehicle components. Lockheed Martin Space designed and manufactured the Mars Helicopter Delivery System. JPL is managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech