Images and video show NASA’s helicopter flying in ‘Wright brothers moment’ on Mars

Video from NASA rover Perseverance shows helicopter Ingenuity spinning up its rovers, hovering, and then landing on Mars.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s Perseverance rover captured helicopter Ingenuity on the surface of Mars on April 18, 2021 before its first flight.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

A camera on NASA’s Perseverance rover shows helicopter Ingenuity flying above the surface of Mars on April 19, 2021.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA helicopter Ingenuity back on the surface of Mars after its first flight on April 19, 2021, captured by a camera on the Perseverance rover.

A camera on NASA’s Perseverance rover shows helicopter Ingenuity flying above the surface of Mars on April 19, 2021.

Scientists and engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California work with Ingenuity during its development, a years-long process that was aided by some of the agency’s experts in rotor dynamics.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Perseverance rover, with the Ingenuity helicopter visible attached underneath, prepared for launch.

NASA/JPL-Caltech