when NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter Flying to Mars in April 2021 will mark a historic moment in space exploration.

This small, solar-powered rotorcraft becomes the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Now, after the huge success of Ingenuity, NASA has set its sights on an even more ambitious airborne probe of the Red Planet.

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Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)

The inheritance of ingenuity

Ingenuity’s journey to Mars far exceeded people’s expectations. It was originally designed to fly only five times in 30 days, but eventually completed an astounding 72 flights in nearly three years. The helicopter serves as an aerial reconnaissance aircraft for the Perseverance rover, helping scientists and engineers collect valuable data about the Martian terrain and atmosphere.

throughout its missionIngenuity pushed the boundaries of extraterrestrial flight, reaching a maximum altitude of 78.7 feet, a top speed of 22.4 mph, and completing the longest single flight of 2,310 feet.

Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)

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NASA’s next-generation Mars helicopter

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is working on a concept for a next-generation Mars helicopter that could revolutionize exploration of the Red Planet. The new aircraft is still in the early stages of development and is expected to be a major upgrade for the Ingenuity.

The proposed helicopter has six rotors in a hexagonal configuration and is much larger, possibly “the size of an SUV.” It will be able to carry scientific payloads weighing up to 11 pounds and have a range of up to 1.9 miles per Martian day.

The increased size and payload capacity will allow the new helicopter to conduct wider scientific surveys and explore areas inaccessible to ground-based rovers. This advanced design could enable scientists to study a wide range of Martian terrain Information is provided in detail and quickly, including where the rover cannot safely travel.

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Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)

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Overcome challenges

Before the new helicopter can fly on Mars, NASA must solve the challenges facing Ingenuity. The small helicopter made an emergency landing in early 2024, providing valuable lessons for future designs. A key issue is navigation in featureless terrain.

Ingenuity’s vision-based navigation system encountered difficulties on the sandy, corrugated surface of Jezero Crater. “Due to the lack of surface texture, there is too little information to be used by navigation systems,” explains NASA engineer Håvard Grip.

To overcome this problem, the next generation of helicopters may be equipped with more advanced navigation systems that can operate in different Martian landscapes.

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Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)

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technological progress

NASA is making major technological advances to prepare for future Mars helicopters. JPL engineers developed new carbon fiber rotor blades that are 4 inches longer than those used on the Ingenuity.

These next-generation blades are rigorously tested and capable of speeds up to 3,500 rpm, 750 rpm faster than Ingenuity’s top speed. The new design is expected to improve efficiency and performance in Mars’ thin atmosphere, potentially providing a larger, more capable helicopter for future missions. These advances represent a critical step forward in NASA’s ongoing efforts to explore the Red Planet from space.

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Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)

Kurt’s key takeaways

As we look toward the future of exploring Mars, these vehicles can play a vital role in paving the way for human missions. They provide the ability to scout landing sites, study the Martian environment in unprecedented detail, and may even assist future astronauts on the Martian surface. The development of more advanced Mars helicopters also demonstrates the rapid progress of aerospace technology. What was once a bold and ingenious experiment is now evolving into a powerful tool for planetary exploration.

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