Ingenuity Mars Helicopter
The small helicopter that rode to Mars under NASA's Perseverance rover and in 2021 made the first powered flight on another world. It flew 72 times before rotor damage ended its mission in January 2024.
Why it matters
Ingenuity proved that aircraft can fly in Mars's very thin air, less than 1% as dense as Earth's. That result opened the door to helicopter scouts for rovers and future crews, and led directly to follow-on missions such as SkyFall.
How the technology works
A 1.8 kg craft with two stacked rotors about 1.2 m across, Ingenuity charged lithium-ion batteries from a small solar panel and was designed for one short flight of about 90 seconds per Martian day. AV's MacCready Works team worked with NASA JPL on its design and supplied major vehicle components.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction