"Close Call: How Scientists Nearly Killed Ingenuity Before Its Mars Landing"

MiMi Aung, a manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, made the bold decision to lead the development of a small helicopter, Ingenuity, intended to fly on Mars. Despite facing opposition and funding challenges, Aung and her team persevered, ultimately succeeding in getting Ingenuity to Mars as part of the Perseverance rover mission. This is the inside story of how Aung and a few champions of flying on Mars ultimately prevailed, showcasing the determination and innovation behind the creation of Ingenuity.