(CLO) NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has captured images of debris from its landing mission on Mars, raising concerns about space junk on the red planet.
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, originally designed for just five test flights, has now completed a record 72 successful missions to Mars. But one of its most recent discoveries was not planned: images of debris from its own mission scattered across the surface of the red planet.
Images taken by Ingenuity during a reconnaissance flight over Jezero Crater have revealed the remains of the airborne crane and parachute system that helped Ingenuity and the Perseverance rover safely land on Mars in 2021.
The Perseverance rover's parachute and rear hull were discarded at an altitude of about 2.1 km, then continued to descend and collided with the surface of Mars at a speed of about 126 km/h on February 18, 2021. Photo: NASA
The appearance of man-made waste on Mars raises the question: are humans repeating their mistakes and turning other planets into dumping grounds?
In Earth’s orbit, thousands of inactive satellites and countless pieces of debris have become a serious problem. But Mars, once considered a pristine world, a symbol of humanity’s ambition to conquer the universe, now shows traces of human technology with each new mission.
Ian Clark, the engineer in charge of the Perseverance mission’s parachute system, described the discovery as something out of a science fiction movie. He also acknowledged that the debris has important technical value, helping scientists better understand how the landing system would work in real-world Martian conditions. But he also worries about the long-term consequences.
As missions to Mars increase in number, especially with plans to send humans to the planet in the coming decades, the question arises: where will all this space junk go? Unlike on Earth, materials from spacecraft on Mars do not decompose.
Without controls, Mars could become a giant junkyard, littered with abandoned landers, failed missions and the remains of previous expeditions.
The problem is no longer just a hypothetical one. The moon has become a place of broken rovers, crashed probes, and abandoned equipment after decades of space exploration. Without a change in approach, the fate of Mars may be no different.
Ingenuity’s discovery is more than just a few scattered metal fragments – it’s a warning. As humans venture further into space, how do we balance exploration and protection of the extraterrestrial environment?
Space agencies could set planetary conservation rules, ensuring that future missions don't leave behind "space wreckage."
Ngoc Anh (according to Daily Galaxy, NASA)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nasa-chup-duoc-hinh-anh-dong-do-nat-tren-sao-hoa-post337311.html
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