NASA retires Ingenuity, the little helicopter that made history on Mars

An illustration of NASA's Ingenuity helicopter flying on Mars. In April 2021, Ingenuity became the first aircraft to complete a powered, controlled flight on another planet. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

NASA is retiring Ingenuity, its mini Mars helicopter, a week after it was damaged during its 72nd flight. The spindly overachiever made history as the first aircraft to complete a powered, controlled flight on another planet.

"The little helicopter that could — and it kept saying 'I think I can, I think I can' — well, it's taken its last flight," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a video announcement on Thursday.