Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Illustration of Artwork of Ingenuity helicopter.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

That high-flying Ingenuity Mars helicopter may be in trouble.

In a “Flight 72 Status Update,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory notes that the aerial device ran into some sort of trouble on descent from a successful flight to 40 feet (12 meters).

“On Jan. 18, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter executed its 72nd flight at the Red Planet. The flight was designed as a quick pop-up vertical flight to check out the helicopter’s systems, following an unplanned early landing during its previous flight,” the JPL communiqué explains.

Dynamic duo: Ingenuity Mars helicopter iand Perseverance rover.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Prior to touchdown

The Mars helicopter did send data to the NASA Perseverance rover busily at work in Jezero Crater. That rover serves as a relay between the helicopter and Earth controllers.

That data indicated the mini-chopper successfully climbed to its assigned maximum altitude.

“During its planned descent, communications between the helicopter and rover terminated early, prior to touchdown,” adds the communiqué.

“The Ingenuity team is analyzing available data and considering next steps to reestablish communications with the helicopter.”