NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter will hit double figures this weekend as it makes its tenth flight on the Red Planet, investigating 'raised ridges' in the Jezero crater.
The tiny 4lb chopper could return to the Martian skies as early as tomorrow, according to the US space agency, almost three weeks after its last trip.
The tenth flight will see it continue efforts to support the NASA Perseverance rover in its mission to gather rock samples and search for signs of ancient life on Mars.
The specific flight plan hasn't been revealed but it will continue making flights over 'Raised Ridges,' a collection of rock features in the Jezero crater that are of interest to the Perseverance team, and could be the location of future sample collection.
The 4-pound helicopter arrived on Mars in February in conjunction with the Perseverance rover
The tiny 4lb chopper could return to the Martian skies as early as tomorrow, according to the US space agency, almost three weeks after its last trip
Ingenuity arrived on the Red Planet on February 18 strapped to the belly of the Perseverance rover in the 28-mile wide Jezero crater.
In the distant past of Mars the region was home to a lake and river delta, making it a prime candidate for finding signs of ancient microbial life.
The helicopter first deployed from Perseverance on April 3, starting a 30-day clock to make its first powered flight.
Ingenuity, which is just 18-inches tall, made its first flight on April 19, 2021, making history as the first powered controlled flight on another planet.
Since then it has completed nine successful flights, the first five as part of a 'technical demonstration' to prove something could fly on Mars.
The subsequent flights are part of an extended mission support role, helping Perseverance.
