Helicopter Highlights
Helicopter Highlights
NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has completed 72 flights since first taking to the skies above the Red Planet on April 19, 2021, far exceeding its originally planned technology demonstration of up to five flights. The many highlights of Ingenuity's historic and successful activities on Mars include:
- The first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet, a feat that's been called a "Wright Brothers moment"
- Completing 128.8 flying minutes, covering 10.5 miles (17.0 km), and reaching altitudes as high as 78.7 ft (24.0 m)
- Successfully flying in the extremely thin Martian atmosphere
- Previewing areas of Mars of possible interest for the Perseverance rover to explore
- Paving the way for future aerial explorers at Mars and, potentially, other space destinations
Participate
Celebrate the Ingenuity helicopter with a postcard, photo, meme, poster, or GIF using the #ThanksIngenuity hashtag on social media.
Helicopter Timeline
April 4, 2021
April 8, 2021
April 19, 2021
April 25, 2021
May 7, 2021
July 5, 2021
July 24, 2021
August 4, 2021
April 19, 2022
October 5, 2023
October 12, 2023
Quick Facts
Name | Ingenuity |
Main Job | A technology demonstration to test the first powered flight on Mars. The helicopter rode to Mars attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover. |
Launch | July 30, 2020, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
Landed | Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars |
Length of Mission | Technology demonstration completed; transitioned to new operations demo phase. Mission completed on Jan. 25, 2024. |
Fact Sheet | Press Kit |
Anatomy of the Mars Helicopter
'Hover' or 'click' on the orange dots to learn about the parts on the Mars Helicopter.
Solar Panel
A solar panel helped keep the battery charged. xAvionics & Body
Its avionics — or "brains" — helped the helicopter function and navigate. The body has insulation and heaters to keep sensitive electronics warm and survive cold Martian nights. xSensors & Cameras
Sensors collected data on how fast the helicopter was traveling and in which direction. Cameras help the helicopter see. xBlades
Made of carbon fiber foam core to provide lift in the thin Mars atmosphere. xBatteries
Batteries helped power the helicopter. xLegs
Ultra-light legs made of carbon fiber tubes helped it land after flight. xTech Specs
Mass | 1.8 kilograms |
---|---|
Weight | 4 pounds on Earth; 1.5 pounds on Mars |
Width | Total length of rotors: ~4 feet (~1.2 meters) tip to tip |
Power | Solar panel charges Lithium-ion batteries, providing enough energy for one 90-second flight per Martian day (~350 Watts of average power during flight) |
Blade span | Just under 4 feet (1.2 meters) |
Flight range | Up to 980 feet (300 meters) |
Flight altitude | Up to 15 feet (5 meters) |
Flight environment | Thin atmosphere, less than 1% as dense as Earth's |
Flight Log
By the Numbers
Flights
72
Flight Time
~128.8
mins
Distance Flown
11
miles
(~17.0 km)
Max. Ground Speed
22.4
mph
10 m/s
Highest Altitude
24
meters
(~79 ft)
Note: Dates based on Pacific time zone at the time of Ingenuity's flight.