Unexpected discovery by Mars helicopter highlights dynamic wind conditions on the Red Planet
Originally designed to demonstrate flight technology, the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity has become a valuable tool for studying the Martian atmosphere. For the first time, Ingenuity allows scientists to measure wind conditions near the Martian surface at different altitudes, providing insights into previously unexplored wind speeds and directions on Mars.
Scientists led the study, including Brian Jackson of Boise State University in Idaho, Lori Fenton of the SETI Institute in California, and Travis Brown of Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who used Ingenuity flight data to check wind patterns. These findings were then compared to wind readings obtained by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) on board the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. This groundbreaking work was recently accepted into the Journal of Planetary Science.
Throughout its flight, Ingenuity demonstrated how wind conditions on Mars change significantly. For example, during one flight, the helicopter detected unexpectedly strong winds that exceeded predicted limits for the location and season. However, a later flight under similar conditions recorded much calmer winds. These fluctuations suggest that Martian winds are formed by temporary, possibly localized atmospheric forces, revealing a more complex lower atmosphere than scientists previously understood.
The researchers believe the findings demonstrate how “ingenuity” can capture unique, real-time wind conditions on Mars. “Our analysis shows that ingenuity is not just about following model predictions, but about capturing the real, local conditions of Martian winds,” said Professor Jackson, who emphasized the importance of these observations. The team believes that the unexpected strength and changes in wind patterns observed by Ingenuity may reveal “the need for updated boundary layer wind models” – the layer of air closest to the Martian surface where dust and wind interact.
Another important finding came from comparing wind data recorded by Ingenuity and the rover’s MEDA system. While some flights showed a match in wind direction data between the helicopter and rover, other comparisons showed dramatic differences. This difference hints at the complex behavior of Martian winds at different altitudes and locations, suggesting that Ingenuity may be affected by weather patterns occurring considerable distances from the rover. Understanding these wind patterns is critical to understanding how the Martian surface and atmosphere interact, especially as wind-driven dust affects the Martian landscape and Earth’s overall climate.
Scientists attribute Ingenuity’s ability to observe wind data to the advanced engineering of its onboard sensors. Although Smart is not equipped with scientific instruments specifically for climate studies, its sensors (originally designed to help it navigate and maintain balance) allow researchers to assess wind patterns through changes in its position and angle. As the helicopter tilts to counteract incoming winds, researchers can interpret these movements to estimate wind speed and direction, providing a unique look at the Martian atmosphere without the need for additional instruments.
The successful collection of atmospheric data using Ingenuity’s navigation sensors opens up exciting possibilities for future planetary exploration. Ingenuity’s results suggest that similar drones could become valuable tools for studying weather patterns and wind layers on Mars and other planets or moons. For example, the upcoming Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan will use a larger, more instrumented rotorcraft to investigate the moon’s dense atmosphere in greater detail.
The findings highlight a new way to study the lower atmospheres of other worlds and suggest a promising direction for future space missions, the team said. Ingenuity’s unexpected role as a climate probe hints at how similar craft could contribute to atmospheric science and planetary exploration beyond simply measuring topography, expanding our ability to explore and understand the atmospheres of distant worlds.
Journal reference
Jackson, B., Fenton, L., Brown, T., Monjira, A., Martinez, G., et al. “Analysis of Mars near-surface winds using attitude data from Mars 2020 Ingenuity,” Journal of Planetary Science, 2024.
About the author
Professor Brian Jackson He is a professor of physics at Boise State University in the United States. He leads the Planetary Science Research Group, which focuses on planetary astronomy and the study of extrasolar planets. His research includes exploring aeolian processes on Earth, as on Mars and Titan, and using 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 a primary research interest in aeolian topography—how wind shapes planetary surfaces on Venus, Earth, Mars, and Titan. Her work also includes recent and ongoing climate change and the mobility of wind-blown dust.
Dr. Travis Brown is an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology. He was involved in the development and operations of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter, contributing to its engineering and mission success.
