As well as the lower gravity, the helicopter faces the challenge of flying in the Martian atmosphere, which is about 100 times thinner than Earth’s.
As it is a technology demonstration, the helicopter does not have any scientific instruments on board.
Ingenuity will attempt additional experimental flights, which will involve travelling further distances and increasing altitudes.
All together the helicopter will aim for up to five test flights within a 30 Martian-day (31 Earth-day) demonstration window.
It is designed to be mostly autonomous, so Nasa will not be able to control the helicopter remotely.
This is because of the distance between Earth and Mars – it takes more than 11 minutes to get a radio signal back to Earth.
Nasa s Mars helicopter completes first ever controlled flight on another planet
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Nasa celebrates historic Mars helicopter flight
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