NASA has temporarily grounded its Ingenuity Mars helicopter: Here’s why 

If you are intrigued by space and its latest developments, you are certainly aware of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, popularly known as the Ingenuity Mission. As part of this programme, this US-based space agency had deployed a rover named Perseverance carrying a small, robotic and coaxial (having a common central axis) helicopter named Ingenuity on its underside in July 2020. Since then, both of these spacecrafts have been hovering on the Martian surface in order to find signs of ancient microbial life on the red planet. Interestingly, the Ingenuity Mission is overseen by NASA’s research and development centre called The Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Now, according to latest reports, NASA has temporarily grounded the Ingenuity helicopter and decided to give it a break. Let’s find out the reasons here.  

Why has NASA grounded Ingenuity Mars Helicopter? 
Well, it turns out that this aircraft that had made a powered flight on an extra-terrestrial world has taken a pause for a few weeks. But why? Well, it is currently winter on Mars. Winter on the red planet means double the dust content and lack of proper sunlight required to recharge the solar-powered helicopter’s six lithium-ion batteries they keep it functional. However, sources cite that this break is only temporary and Ingenuity will soon be back on its mission in August.  

In case you are wondering whether or not Mars has distinct seasons like that on Earth, be rest assured that it does. In fact, just like the blue planet, the red planet too has a slightly tilted axis with respect to its orbital plane. What does this even mean? Over the course of a year, both the hemispheres on Mars receive different amounts of sunlight, in turn gifting the red planet with different seasons.  

So, what happens in the meantime? 
Before Ingenuity returns on Mars in August, NASA will ensure that the Mars helicopter not only gets to recharge, but also builds a charge back-up. But first, Ingenuity’s batteries will take some rest. Meanwhile, the dust levels on the red planet will also subside as experts speculate.  

You may find it interesting to note that China’s Zhurong rover was also grounded in May for the same reason, while NASA’s own rover named Opportunity has suffered in the past due to severe winter on the red planet. In fact, the solar-powered Opportunity was destroyed, thanks to a harsh, sun-blocking dust storm on the Martian surface, back in 2018. This explains why NASA has grounded Ingenuity. Why risk another billion-dollar mission?  

The journey of Ingenuity so far 
Ingenuity was launched in July 2020 and landed on the Martian surface in February 2021 with support from the Perseverance rover. On April 2021, it made history by completing the first ever powered extra-terrestrial flight. Its first flight duration was 39.1 seconds about 10 feet above the reddish soil. Since then, Ingenuity has made 25 flights with a total 55 minutes of flight time. Its last flight was in April this year, during which it covered a record-breaking distance of 704 metres at a speed of only 5.5 metres per second. It was by far the helicopter’s longest and fastest flight till date.