NASA's helicopter makes history with successful flight on Planet Mars

NASA's Mars helicopter makes history with successful flight on the Red Planet. As per the U.S. space agency NASA, the miniature robot helicopter Ingenuity performed a successful take off and landing on Mars early today. This is the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft over the surface of another planet.

 

Mission managers at NASA's burst into applause and cheers as data beamed back from Mars confirmed



that the 4-pound (1.8-kg) twin-rotor helicopter had performed its maiden 40-second flight as planned .

 

The robot rotorcraft was programmed to ascend 10 feet (3 meters) straight up, then hover and rotate in place over the Martian surface for half a minute before settling back down on its four legs. Officials said data returned from Mars showed that this had in fact occurred.