Ingenuity Helicopter's First Two Years

Ingenuity Helicopter's First Two Years

Video highlights show how NASA's historic Ingenuity Helicopter, originally planned for up to five flights above Mars, went way beyond to hit the 50th-flight mark and continue its aerial adventures. WATCH VIDEO

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Helicopter Highlights

Helicopter Highlights

NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has completed 51 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 91.4 flying minutes, covering 7.3 miles (11.7 km), and reaching altitudes as high as 59.1 ft (18.0 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

Quick Facts


Artist's concept of the Mars Helicopter
View, download and interact with the Ingenuity 3D model.
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 complete; transitioned to new operations demo phase
Fact Sheet | Press Kit

Taking Flight on Another World

Mars Helicopter with Perseverance rover in the background

The Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is a technology demonstration to test powered, controlled flight on another world for the first time. It hitched a ride to Mars on the Perseverance rover. Once the rover reached a suitable "airfield" location, it released Ingenuity to the surface so it could perform a series of test flights over a 30-Martian-day experimental window.

The helicopter completed its technology demonstration after three successful flights. For the first flight on April 19, 2021, Ingenuity took off, climbed to about 10 feet (3 meters) above the ground, hovered in the air briefly, completed a turn, and then landed. It was a major milestone: the very first powered, controlled flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars, and, in fact, the first such flight in any world beyond Earth. After that, the helicopter successfully performed additional experimental flights of incrementally farther distance and greater altitude.

With its tech demo complete, Ingenuity transitions to a new operations demonstration phase to explore how future rovers and aerial explorers can work together.

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5 Things to Know

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First test of powered flight on another planet.

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Built to be light and strong enough to stow away under the rover while on the way to Mars, and survive the harsh Martian environment after arriving on the surface. The helicopter weighs less than 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

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Powerful enough to lift off in the thin Mars atmosphere. The atmosphere of Mars is very thin: less than 1% the density of Earth's.

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The helicopter was designed to fly for up to 90 seconds, to distances of almost 980 feet (300 meters) at a time and about 10 to 15 feet from the ground. That's no small feat compared to the first 12-second flight of the Wright Brothers' airplane.

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The helicopter flies on its own, without human control. It must take off, fly, and land, with minimal commands from Earth sent in advance.

Flight Log

Flights 51 (as of 4/22/23)
Distance Flown 11,734 meters (~38,499 ft)
Highest Altitude 18 meters (~59 ft)
Fastest Ground Speed 6.50 m/s (14.5 mph)
Flight Time ~91.4 minutes (5,487 seconds)


Flight Sol Date Horizontal Distance Max.
Altitude 		Max. Groundspeed Duration Route of Flight
m ft m ft m/s mph seconds From To
1 58 April 19, 2021 0 0 3 ~10 0 0 39.1 Wright Brothers Field
2 61 April 22, 2021 4 ~13 5 ~16 0.50 ~1.1 51.9 Wright Brothers Field
3 64 April 25, 2021 100 ~328 5 ~16 2 ~4.5 80.3 Wright Brothers Field
4 69 April 30, 2021 266 ~873 5 ~16 3.50 ~7.8 116.9 Wright Brothers Field
5 76 May 7, 2021 129 ~423 10 ~33 2 ~4.5 108.2 Wright Brothers Field Airfield B
6 91 May 22, 2021 215 ~705 10 ~33 4 ~8.9 139.9 Airfield B Airfield C
7 107 June 8, 2021 106 ~348 10 ~33 4 ~8.9 62.8 Airfield C Airfield D
8 120 June 21, 2021 160 ~525 10 ~33 4 ~8.9 77.4 Airfield D Airfield E
9 133 July 5, 2021 625 ~2,051 10 ~33 5 ~11.2 166.4 Airfield E Airfield F
10 152 July 24, 2021 233 ~764 12 ~39 5 ~11.2 165.4 Airfield F Airfield G
11 163 Aug. 4, 2021 383 ~1,257 12 ~39 5 ~11.2 130.9 Airfield G Airfield H
12 174 Aug. 16, 2021 450 ~1,476 10 ~33 4.30 ~9.6 169.5 Airfield H
13 193 Sept. 4, 2021 210 ~689 8 ~26 3.30 ~7.4 160.5 Airfield H
14 241 Oct. 24, 2021 2 ~7 5 ~16 0.50 ~1.1 23.0 Airfield H
15 254 Nov. 6, 2021 407 ~1,335 12 ~39 5 ~11.2 128.8 Airfield H Airfield F
16 268 Nov. 20, 2021 116 ~381 10 ~33 1.50 ~3.4 107.9 Airfield F Airfield J
17 282 Dec. 5, 2021 187 ~614 10 ~33 2.50 ~5.6 116.8 Airfield J Airfield K
18 292 Dec. 15, 2021 230 ~755 10 ~33 2.50 ~5.6 124.3 Airfield K Airfield L
19 345 Feb. 7, 2022 63 ~207 10 ~33 1 ~2.2 99.8 Airfield L Airfield E
20 362 Feb. 25, 2022 391 ~1,283 10 ~33 4.40 ~9.8 130.3 Airfield E Airfield M
21 375 March 10, 2022 370 ~1,214 10 ~33 3.85 ~8.6 129.2 Airfield M Airfield N
22 384 March 19, 2022 68 ~223 10 ~33 1 ~2.2 101.4 Airfield N
23 388 March 23, 2022 358 ~1,175 10 ~33 4 ~8.9 129.1 Airfield N Airfield P
24 398 April 3, 2022 47 ~154 10 ~33 1.45 ~3.2 69.5 Airfield P
25 403 April 8, 2022 704 ~2,310 10 ~33 5.50 ~12.3 161.3 Airfield P Airfield Q
26 414 April 19, 2022 360 ~1,181 8 ~26 3.80 ~8.5 159.0 Airfield Q Airfield R
27 418 April 23, 2022 307 ~1,007 10 ~33 3 ~6.7 152.9 Airfield R Airfield S
28 423 April 29, 2022 418 ~1,371 10 ~33 3.60 ~8.1 152.4 Airfield S Airfield T
29 465 June 11, 2022 179 ~587 10 ~33 5.50 ~12.3 66.6 Airfield T Airfield U
30 533 Aug. 20, 2022 2 ~7 5 ~16 0.50 ~1.1 33.3 Airfield U
31 550 Sept. 6, 2022 97 ~318 10 ~33 4.75 ~10.6 55.6 Airfield U Airfield V
32 561 Sept. 17, 2022 94 ~308 10 ~33 4.75 ~10.6 55.3 Airfield V Airfield W
33 567 Sept. 24, 2022 111 ~364 10 ~33 4.75 ~10.6 55.2 Airfield W Airfield X
34 625 Nov. 22, 2022 0 0 5 ~16 0 0 18.3 Airfield X
35 635 Dec. 3, 2022 15 ~49 14 ~46 3 ~6.7 52.0 Airfield X
36 642 Dec. 10, 2022 110 ~361 10 ~33 5.50 ~12.3 60.5 Airfield X
37 649 Dec. 17, 2022 62 ~203 10 ~33 3 ~6.7 55.2 Airfield X Airfield Y
38 667 Jan. 4, 2023 111 ~364 10 ~33 3.50 ~7.8 74.3 Airfield Y Airfield Z
39 673 Jan. 11, 2023 140 ~459 10 ~33 4 ~8.9 78.7 Airfield Z
40 681 Jan. 19, 2023 178 ~584 10 ~33 3.20 ~7.2 91.6 Airfield Z Airfield Beta
41 689 Jan. 27, 2023 183 ~600 10 ~33 3 ~6.7 109.1 Airfield Beta
42 697 Feb. 4, 2023 248 ~814 10 ~33 3 ~6.7 137.2 Airfield Beta Airfield Gamma
43 708 Feb. 16, 2023 390 ~1,280 12 ~39 4 ~8.9 146.0 Airfield Gamma Airfield Epsilon
44 711 Feb. 19, 2023 334 ~1,096 12 ~39 3.50 ~7.8 141.3 Airfield Epsilon Airfield Zeta
45 714 Feb. 22, 2023 496 ~1,627 12 ~39 6 ~13.4 144.5 Airfield Zeta Airfield Eta
46 717 Feb. 25, 2023 445 ~1,460 12 ~39 5.30 ~11.9 135.9 Airfield Eta Airfield Theta
47 729 March 9, 2023 440 ~1,444 12 ~39 5.30 ~11.9 146.1 Airfield Theta Airfield Iota
48 741 March 21, 2023 398 ~1,306 12 ~39 4.65 ~10.4 149.9 Airfield Iota Airfield Kappa
49 752 April 2, 2023 282 ~925 16 ~52 6.50 ~14.5 142.7 Airfield Kappa Airfield Lambda
50 763 April 13, 2023 322 ~1,056 18 ~59 4.60 ~10.3 145.7 Airfield Lambda Airfield Mu
51 772 April 22, 2023 188 ~617 12 ~39 4 ~8.9 136.9 Airfield Mu Airfield Nu

Note: Dates based on Pacific time zone at the time of Ingenuity's flight.

Anatomy of the Mars Helicopter

'Hover' or 'click' on the orange dots to learn about the parts on the Mars Helicopter.

Use links to show or hide all the labels.
Mars Helicopter Artist's Concept

Antennas

Radio antennas talk to Earth via the Mars 2020 rover and the Mars orbiters. x

Solar Panel

A solar panel helps keep the battery charged. x

Avionics & Body

Its avionics — or "brains" — help the helicopter function and navigate. The body has insulation and heaters to keep sensitive electronics warm and survive cold Martian nights. x

Sensors & Cameras

Sensors collect data on how fast the helicopter is traveling and in which direction. Cameras help the helicopter see. x

Blades

Made of carbon fiber foam core to provide lift in the thin Mars atmosphere. x

Batteries

Batteries help power the helicopter. x

Legs

Ultra-light legs made of carbon fiber tubes help it land after flight. x

Tech 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