Ingenuity was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which also managed the project for NASA Headquarters. It was supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, with significant flight performance analysis and technical assistance provided by NASA’s Ames Research Center and Langley Research Center during its development.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is a small, autonomous rotorcraft that was deployed to the surface of Mars as part of the Perseverance rover mission. It was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of powered, controlled flight on another planet for the first time.
Objectives and Capabilities
Ingenuity’s primary objectives were to demonstrate controlled flight on Mars and act as a scout for the Perseverance rover. The helicopter was equipped with two 1.2-meter wide rotor blades that spun at around 2,400 rpm – much faster than helicopters on Earth due to Mars’ thin atmosphere. It also carried a high-resolution color camera to capture aerial images and video.
Flight Testing and Milestones
After landing with the Perseverance rover in February 2021, Ingenuity went through a series of preflight checks and system activations before attempting its first flight on April 19, 2021. The helicopter successfully took off, hovered, and landed, marking the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. Ingenuity went on to complete additional flights, greatly exceeding its original 30-Martian-day experimental window.