NASA flew a four-pound helicopter on Mars. The follow-up weighs nearly a ton and is going to Saturn

Space Daily·Apr 28

✦ NabkaNews BriefAuto-summarized from multiple outlets · verify with the source

A helicopter, initially designed for a limited number of test flights, was flown on Mars, with reports indicating it completed multiple flights in the planet's thin atmosphere. The helicopter, known as Ingenuity, eventually suffered rotor blade damage, ending its mission. A follow-up helicopter, significantly larger, is planned for a mission to Saturn.

Full coverage

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity completed 72 flights in an atmosphere less than one percent as dense as Earth's before rotor blade damage grounded it in 2024, and JPL had originally designed it for just five test flights, and the lessons from its overperformance

Space Daily·May 20

NASA Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Prepares for First Flight

NASA (.gov)·Mar 23

Where no rover has gone before: how Mars helicopters enable a new era of exploration

SpaceNews·Mar 14

Mars helicopter Ingenuity successfully completed its historic first flight

ABC7 New York·Apr 19

NASA’s Helicopter Ingenuity Will Attempt the First Flight on Mars

Smithsonian Magazine·Feb 16

Tiny NASA Mars helicopter no longer able to fly due to damage, mission is officially over

National Desk·Jan 25

NASA helicopter set for historic first flight on Mars

NBC News·Apr 9

Ingenuity helicopter poised for first-ever flight on Mars

Al Jazeera·Apr 9

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