NASA's Perseverance Mars rover bids farewell to its aerial companion, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, as it captures stunning images of the final airfield known as "Valinor Hills." The helicopter's mission comes to an end after completing an impressive 72 flights and flying a total of 17 kilometers. Ingenuity's remarkable journey began three years ago in Jezero Crater and concludes in Neretva Vallis, a channel that once harbored an ancient lake.

The Ingenuity team affectionately named the spot where the helicopter completed its final flight after the fictional location in J.R.R. Tolkien's renowned fantasy novels, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Unfortunately, on its 72nd flight on January 18, 2024, the helicopter's rotor blades sustained damage during landing.

Ingenuity will be remembered as the first craft to achieve controlled and powered flight on another planet, providing the science team with access to landscapes inaccessible to rovers. This week, Perseverance neared the helicopter, approaching within approximately 450 meters, which is expected to be the closest proximity for the remainder of the rover's mission. Utilizing the Mastcam-Z instrument, long-distance imagery of Ingenuity was captured.

While bidding farewell to Ingenuity, Perseverance continues its ambitious mission. The rover is currently exploring the margin unit, an area along the edge of Jezero Crater with distinct signatures of carbonate minerals observed from orbit. Recent observations conducted by the SuperCam LIBS and VISIR instruments focused on a pitted rock named "Porkchop Geyser." Additionally, Mastcam-Z images were taken of a rubbly outcrop known as "Muiron Island."

Perseverance is steadily making its way westward while researchers diligently prepare for the exciting path ahead. In orbital imagery of the crater rim, massive blocks called "megabreccia" have been identified. These blocks are believed to have originated from the impact that formed Jezero Crater or could even represent older rocks ejected from the vast Isidis Basin in the eastern region.

Although parting ways with Ingenuity is a bittersweet moment, the future remains bright for Perseverance and the dedicated science team. The rover looks forward to the mysteries that await at the crater rim, potentially offering unprecedented insights into Mars' history that no rover has had the privilege to observe before.