NASA's pioneering Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, has completed its final flight after sustaining damage to its rotor blades during landing. The space agency has officially declared the end of the mission for the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) chopper, which had served as a technology demonstration on the Red Planet.
Originally designed for a short-term mission, Ingenuity exceeded all expectations during its three-year stint on Mars. It conducted an impressive total of 72 flights, accumulating over two hours of flight time and covering a distance of 11 miles (18 kilometers). These achievements far surpassed the initial plans for the helicopter, which had aimed for only a fraction of this distance.
