The Ingenuity helicopter faces increasing challenges as it lands on Mars. The vehicle was initially designed for only five flights, but has been so successful that it has continued to fly and is preparing for its 29th flight, according to the space agency. However, there are problems ahead for the helicopter. Because it has been operating for so long, it must now be operating during the dusty season on Mars. As the seasons of the planet change, so does the amount of dust in the atmosphere. Now, in the Jezero crater where the helicopter is, the amount of dust is increasing. This causes problems for Ingenuity, as dust can cover its solar panels, making it difficult to charge the batteries (via NASA). More dust in the atmosphere also means less sunlight can pass through the panels, making the problem even worse.
In May 2022, engineers lost contact with Ingenuity due to a problem caused by low power due to dust. In this case, the helicopter was able to turn on again, but its internal clock was inadvertently reset, so that it lost track of communications with the Perseverance rover. Fortunately, the engineers were able to find out what the problem was and resume communications within a few days.
However, the dust problem will remain a problem. The Ingenuity team tested a method of using less power at night by using the heaters for less time so that the batteries could be recharged and the Ingenuity could fly again. This allowed the helicopter to continue operating, but it was risky as low temperatures could damage its hardware. In light of this, be sure to watch the video of the helicopter in action, as unfortunately the mission will not last forever.