stim3on, 3 months ago

New Mastcam-Z images that were downlinked earlier today further confirm that one of the blades from the upper rotor is entirely missing.
Previously this damage was only seen in the helicopter shadow in images taken by the navigation camera from Ingenuity.

The outer 25% of the remaining upper blade is also broken off and the new blade-tip is bent slightly upwards.

2x upscaled Mastcam-Z right image.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Simeon Schmauß

the Mars Helicopter standing on the slope of a sand ripple. two small dark marks can be seen in the sand next to her, these were presumably made by the impact of the rotor blades. Only three rotor blades are visible, from the point of view of the camera, the upper left blade is missing.