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space-iconSpace and Physicsspace-iconAstronomy
clock-iconPUBLISHEDApril 13, 2022
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NASA's Tiny Ingenuity Helicopter Seen From Space In New Photos!

Dr. Alfredo Carpineti headshot

Dr. Alfredo Carpineti

Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.

Space & Physics Editor

Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile

Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.

View full profile
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Perseverance and Ingenuity as seen from Space. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona


Over the years, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has delivered some spectacular views of the Red Planet from orbit as well as spotting the robotic explorers we have sent to Mars. Its keen eye had to be particularly sharp to spot Ingenuity, the Mars helicopter and one of the smallest of the vehicles we have sent there.

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The images were snapped on March 31 using the HiRISE (high resolution imagine experiment) camera and show ingenuity on what looks like a wavey bedrock with its companion rover Perseverance on a large rock formation about 200 meters (656 feet) away.

Ingenuity from Space
Ingenuity as seen from space thanks to NASA's MRO. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

Ingenuity has recently completed its 25th flight, exceeding the expected plan for five aerial jaunts over Mars. In its latest flight, the little helicopter reached a speed of 5.5 meters per second (12.3 miles per hour), the fastest it has ever flown on Mars.

[H/T: Space.com]


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