The Mars helicopter Ingenuity, originally designed as a demonstration of flight technology, has become an invaluable tool for studying the Martian atmosphere. For the first time, Ingenuity has enabled scientists to measure wind conditions close to the Martian surface at different altitudes, providing insight into wind speeds and directions previously unexplored on Mars.
Scientists, including Brian Jackson from Boise State University in Idaho, Lori Fenton from the SETI Institute in California, and Travis Brown from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, led this study, using flight data from Ingenuity to examine wind patterns. These findings were then compared with wind readings taken by the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover’s onboard Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, or MEDA. This groundbreaking work was recently accepted by The Planetary Science Journal.
Throughout its flights, Ingenuity has shown how wind conditions on Mars can vary significantly. For instance, during one flight, the helicopter detected unexpectedly strong winds, which exceeded the predicted limits for that location and season. However, a later flight conducted in similar conditions recorded much calmer winds. These fluctuations indicate that Martian winds are shaped by temporary, possibly localized atmospheric forces, revealing a more complex lower atmosphere than scientists previously understood.
Researchers believe these findings demonstrate how Ingenuity is capturing unique, real-time wind conditions on Mars. “Our analysis shows that Ingenuity is not merely following model predictions but capturing the real, localized conditions of Martian winds,” says Professor Jackson, emphasizing the importance of these observations. The team suggests that the unexpected strength and variations in wind patterns observed by Ingenuity may reveal “a need for updated boundary layer wind models”—a reference to the layer of air closest to the Martian surface, where dust and wind interact.
Another important discovery came from comparing wind data recorded by Ingenuity and the rover’s MEDA system. While some flights showed wind direction data that matched between the helicopter and the rover, other comparisons revealed sharp differences. This discrepancy hints at the intricate behavior of Martian winds at varying heights and locations, suggesting that Ingenuity may have been affected by weather patterns happening at a considerable distance from the rover. Understanding these wind patterns is crucial for grasping how Mars’ surface and atmosphere interact, especially as wind-driven dust influences Martian landscapes and the planet’s overall climate.
Scientists attribute Ingenuity’s ability to observe wind data to the advanced engineering of its onboard sensors. Although Ingenuity wasn’t specifically equipped with scientific instruments for climate studies, its sensors—initially intended to help it navigate and maintain balance—allowed researchers to assess wind patterns through shifts in its position and angles. As the helicopter tilts to counteract incoming winds, researchers can interpret these movements to estimate wind speeds and directions, giving a unique glimpse into the Martian atmosphere without needing additional instruments.
The success of using Ingenuity’s navigation sensors to collect atmospheric data opens exciting possibilities for future planetary exploration. Ingenuity’s results suggest that similar drones could be invaluable tools for studying weather patterns and wind layers, both on Mars and potentially on other planets or moons. The upcoming Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan, for example, will use a larger, more instrumented rotorcraft to investigate the moon’s dense atmosphere in even greater detail.
These findings highlight a new method for studying the lower layers of atmospheres on other worlds, according to the research team, and suggest promising directions for future space missions. Ingenuity’s unexpected role as a climate probe hints at how similar aerial vehicles could contribute to atmospheric science and planetary exploration beyond simply surveying terrain, expanding our ability to explore and understand the atmospheres of distant worlds.
Journal Reference
Jackson, B., Fenton, L., Brown, T., Munguira, A., Martinez, G., et al. “Profiling Near-Surface Winds on Mars Using Attitude Data from Mars 2020 Ingenuity,” The Planetary Science Journal, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2410.19132
About the Authors
Professor Brian Jackson is an Professor of Physics at Boise State University in the United States. He leads the Planetary Science Research Group, focusing on planetary astronomy and the study of extrasolar planets. His research includes exploring aeolian processes on Earth as analogs for Mars and Titan, utilizing instrumented drones to study active dust devils.
Dr. Lori Fenton is a Senior Research Scientist at the SETI Institute in California, USA. She specializes in planetary science, with primary research interests in aeolian geomorphology—how wind shapes planetary surfaces—on Venus, Earth, Mars, and Titan. Her work also encompasses recent and ongoing climate changes and the mobility of wind-blown sand and dust.
Dr. Travis Brown is an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology in the United States. He has been involved in the development and operation of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter, contributing to its engineering and mission success.
