Farewell, Dear Ingenuity
On April 19, 2021, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made history when it completed the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. Though it was expected to make no more than five test flights over 30 days, Ingenuity soared higher and faster than ever imagined by its team at JPL, which Caltech manages for NASA. The aerial scout for the Perseverance rover touched down for the final time on January 18, 2024, after its 72nd flight in just under three years. Here are some of the well wishes sent to Ingenuity and its team throughout its mission.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“It’s an honor to share this lifetime with you. Thank you for dreaming, daring, and doing! ”
“Anything is possible when a group of dedicated people work together. Congratulations on a successful mission and for making history.”
“Ingenuity, you danced in Martian skies, a testament to human brilliance. Your legacy inspires us all. Farewell, dear friend.”
“Congratulations on being the first ‘flying machine’ o n Mars. Jules Verne would be so amazed!”
“You are an amazing helicopter, and I love you.”
“I watched the first moon landing and felt privileged, and now I get to see a helicopter scanning the Mars landscape. Thank you, Ingenuity and team.”
“So very proud of you and the team that built you. We must never forget that exploration is a wondrous endeavor.”