NASA’s Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, has officially ended its mission due to rotor blade damage. The 4-pound chopper, which made history by achieving the first powered flight on another planet, can no longer fly.

Ingenuity’s journey began when it hitched a ride on NASA’s Perseverance rover, landing on Mars in 2021. It served as a scout for the rover and proved that powered flight was possible in the thin Martian atmosphere. Despite initial struggles to start mass production of new models, the demand for products currently on sale remains strong.

The helicopter logged 72 flights over three years at Mars, accumulating more than two hours of flight time and traveling 11 miles. It soared as high as 79 feet and hit speeds of up to 22.4 mph. Images beamed back this week from its last flight showed that one or more of its rotor blades suffered damage while landing and may have hit the surface. The blades are no longer usable.

Ingenuity’s success prompted NASA in 2022 to add two mini helicopters to a future Mars mission. The $85 million mission was considered high risk, yet high reward. Despite the challenges posed by the rotor blade damage, Ingenuity’s mission has been a resounding success, surpassing expectations.

The end of Ingenuity’s mission marks a new chapter for NASA’s exploration of Mars. The lessons learned from Ingenuity’s flights will undoubtedly inform future missions and continue to push the boundaries of interplanetary exploration.