The Ingenuity drone made a quick flight out from its resting stop and then back again on Jan. 27, covering 600 feet (183 meters) in horizontal distance in just 109 seconds.

After the dust settled in Jezero Crater, Ingenuity returned to its resting area at "Airfield Beta," according to the mission's flight log(opens in new tab).

The rover touched down in February 2021 inside of Jezero, which had a huge ancient lake and river delta and is roughly 28 miles (45 kilometers) wide.

Failing that, two fresh Ingenuity-type helicopters would serve as a relief team, nabbing samples upon the surface for return on a joint NASA/European Space Agency campaign.

From the air, the helicopter allows scientists to look for interesting scientific targets or to find the best route for Perseverance to pick its way across Jezero's cratered and rocky landscape.

Elizabeth's reporting includes an exclusive with Office of the Vice-President of the United States, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission.