NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter: 2nd Try at Fourth Flight Resounding Success [Updated]

[UPDATE (2021-04-30 20:44:10 UTC)]:

Ingenuity Completes its Fourth Flight:

Ingenuity successfully completed its fourth flight today, and we couldn't be happier. The helicopter took off at 10:49 a.m. EDT (7:49 a.m. PDT, or 12:33 local Mars time), climbing to an altitude of 16 feet (5 meters) before flying south approximately 436 feet (133 meters) and then back, for an 872-foot (266-meter) round trip. In total, we were in the air for 117 seconds. That's another set of records for the helicopter, even compared to the spectacular third flight.

Also held today was NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's Next Steps (Media Briefing). Ingenuity is extended for an additional 30-day mission, part of which is to scout ahead for interesting terrain for the Perseverance rover to investigate at it follows along behind. The only limitation on flight duration appears to be heat that accumulates around the motor housing - upcoming 2-minute flights at 5 m/s are possible. This was supposed to be just a demonstration mission, so its ultimate durability is up in the air. Every 30 days there will be another assessment where further extensions of its mission will be assessed.

Original Story follows.

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