Mars Helicopter Ingenuity broke its rotor blade during hard landing at flight 72. It has achieved a momentous milestone by surpassing its intended flight duration on Mars, lasting for over two hours. Originally planned for five flights and a 30-day operation, the helicopter far exceeded expectations. It completed an astonishing 72 flights, operated for nearly three years, and collected valuable data that improved our understanding of Mars' landscape. Ingenuity's flight missions allowed it to cover a distance over 14 times greater than planned, logging more than two hours of flight time. This showcases its robustness and durability in the harsh Martian environment. During its last flight on January 18, 2024, the helicopter unfortunately suffered damage to one of its rotor blades during tough and hard landing, what makes it unable to fly again. However, Ingenuity's communication with ground controllers at Airfield Chi is uninterrupted. It has accumulated an impressive 128.8 flying minutes, covering a remarkable distance of 10.5 miles (17.0 km) and achieving altitudes as high as 78.7 ft (24.0 m). I made 3D visualisation of Ingenuity's rotor blade damaged to see how it looks like visually. Ingenuity's endurance, resilience, and ability to operate under extreme conditions have been showcased through its extended flight time and remarkable distance covered. The high-resolution images captured during its flights have enhanced our understanding of the Martian landscape. Despite the damage to its rotor blade, Ingenuity's success and scientific contributions remain undeniable. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on NASA's Mars groundbreaking mission! Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Source RAW-image from NASA: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01040/ids/edr/browse/heli/HSF_1040_0759257443_233ECM_N0720001HELI00000_000085J01_1200.jpg Animation, visuals and renders were made by iGadgetPro Like and Subscribe! Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 0:26 - Crater made by Ingenuity during hard landing 0:38 - Shadow of Ingenuity's Broken/damaged rotor blade 0:53 - Visualisation of Ingenuity's damaged rotor blade 1:27 - Real footage from Ingenuity's 70th flight on Mars 1:57 - Damage to the rotor blade and carbon fiber fractures 2:50 - Credits #Ingenuity #Mars #Helicopter #damage #broke