NASA's Perseverance captures Ingenuity Helicopter - its companion on Mars

NASA's Perseverance rover recently captured this picture of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the rugged Martian surface. The image was acquired on August 10, 2023 (Sol 879) at the local mean solar time of 11:49:31, using the SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager, a cutting-edge instrument located at the top of the rover's mast.

Perseverance has been actively exploring the Jezero Crater, which is believed to have once harboured a lake billion of years ago. While its primary mission is to search for signs of past microbial life and collect samples for future return to Earth, the rover is also a prolific photographer, capturing moments that showcase the technological marvels at work on this distant world.

My latest “Image of the Week,” as chosen by you. I recently got this snapshot of the #MarsHelicopter with my telescopic SuperCam. 📸 Which pic from this week will be up next? See my latest images and like your favorites: https://t.co/L6lhCMVQ4S – results Monday! pic.twitter.com/WTbuZZfD8A

— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) August 18, 2023

Ingenuity has already achieved numerous feats since its historic deployment by the rover in April 2021. Originally intended as a technology demonstration to test the feasibility of powered flight in the thin Martian atmosphere, this small rotorcraft has surpassed all expectations, becoming an invaluable asset for the Mars mission.

Despite the challenges posed by the extremely thin Martian atmosphere and extreme temperature variation, Ingenuity continues to soar to new heights and distances. As of this writing, the helicopter has completed 55 flights on the Red Planet.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has not only expanded our scientific understanding of Mars but has also paved the way for future aerial exploration of other planetary bodies. The agency's ambitious Mars Sample Return campaign also involves two similar but advanced helicopters to retrieve cached sample tubes left on the surface by the Perseverance rover.