A color GIF looking down at the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter as it begins to spin its two counter-rotating blades. The small craft sits on red, rocky Martian terrain. There is red dust on the helicopter’s solar panel. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASUALT

What We Learned from Flying a Helicopter on Mars

A color GIF of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter as it hovers slowly above the dusty, rocky Martian landscape. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSSALT

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made history – not only as the first aircraft to perform powered, controlled flight on another world – but also for exceeding expectations, pushing the limits, and setting the stage for future NASA aerial exploration of other worlds.

Built as a technology demonstration designed to perform up to five experimental test flights over 30 days, Ingenuity performed flight operations from the Martian surface for almost three years. The helicopter ended its mission on Jan. 25, 2024, after sustaining damage to its rotor blades during its 72nd flight.

So, what did we learn from this small but mighty helicopter?

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