Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

High-tech leftovers from the landing of NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars have been imaged by the space agency’s Ingenuity helicopter.

Taken during the rotorcraft’s 26^th flight over Mars on April 19^th, images show the Perseverance’s backshell (left of center), supersonic parachute (far right) – all caught on camera from an altitude of 26 feet (8 meters).

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

During the Feb. 18, 2021, landing of Perseverance the parachute and backshell were jettisoned at about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) altitude.

The parachute and backshell continued to descend and impacted the ground at approximately 78 mph (126 kph).

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Engineers working on the Mars Sample Return program requested images be taken from an aerial perspective of the components. They may provide insight into the components’ performance during the rover’s entry, descent, and landing.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech