Ingenuity made the first controlled, powered flight on another planet on Mars in 2021.
The small helicopter arrived on Mars attached to NASA’s Perseverance rover. On 19 April 2021, it rose about three meters above the ground and hovered for roughly 39 seconds in Jezero Crater. This was the first powered flight on a world beyond Earth.
Mars has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth, making flight difficult even though its gravity is lower. Ingenuity used rapidly spinning, lightweight rotor blades and autonomous onboard control because signals between Mars and Earth take too long for real-time piloting.
The helicopter was initially intended as a technology demonstration lasting only five flights. Its success led to an extended science-support mission, during which it completed 72 flights before suffering rotor damage in January 2024. It remained an extraordinary aviation milestone even after operations ended.