NASA’s Mars helicopter, named Ingenuity, successfully powered up for the first time in space last week. Ingenuity is the first helicopter designed to fly on another planet. It is currently travelling to the Red Planet aboard NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which launched on 30 July.
The Mars helicopter is the first of its kind
© NASA/JPL-Caltech
On 7 August the helicopter’s six lithium-ion batteries were powered up and charged for the first time in space. The 1.8-kilogram (four-pound) Ingenuity, which is currently stowed beneath Perseverance’s belly, receives its charge from the rover’s power supply.