NASA's Mars helicopter has beamed back an otherworldly collection of photos and video from its first few flights

Aylin Woodward,Morgan McFall-JohnsenApr 30, 2021, 17:53 IST

An artist's concept of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter flying through the Martian skies.NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has completed three flights over the Martian surface.
Although it failed to lift off the ground for its fourth flight on Thursday, Ingenuity seems to be in good shape and NASA plans to retry the flight on Friday.
Ingenuity made history last week when it completed the first controlled, powered flight on another planet. The two subsequent flights each pushed the helicopter higher, farther, and faster.
Ingenuity has been snapping pictures of the Martian surface from the air, and NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has been capturing photos and videos of Ingenuity's aerial adventures from a nearby overlook.
Below are a selection of the best images and clips so far.

Ingenuity has soared over the Martian surface three times in the last 12 days. The 4-pound, tissue-box-sized helicopter was scheduled for a fourth flight on Thursday, but it did not get off the ground.

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover captured this image of Ingenuity on April 29, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Ingenuity has soared over the Martian surface three times in the last 12 days. The 4-pound, tissue-box-sized helicopter was scheduled for a fourth flight on Thursday, but it did not get off the ground.

Even if Ingenuity lands safely from both the fourth and fifth flights, that would still be the end its epic 8-month journey.

Ingenuity underneath the Perseverance rover. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Ingenuity started to test its carbon-fiber rotor blades on April 8.

Ingenuity does a slow spin test of its blades on April 8, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

The issue that prevented Ingenuity's fourth flight on Thursday might be related to a problem first found when the helicopter attempted a full-speed test of its blades on April 9, before its initial flight.

After the software fix, Ingenuity made history on April 19, when it took flight for the first time. It hovered 10 feet above the Martian surface for about 30 seconds.

Mastcam-Z, a camera on the Perseverance rover, captured Ingenuity taking off and landing for its first flight on April 19, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Two cameras on the bottom of Ingenuity recorded a still, black-and-white image of the Martian surface during the flight - complete with the helicopter's shadow.

Ingenuity snapped this photo of its shadow on the ground below as it flew on Mars for the first time, April 19, 2021. NASA

A camera on the Perseverance rover captured the flight in exquisite color.

The Perseverance rover captured Ingenuity's first flight on Mars, April 19, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Footage from a camera on Perseverance's mast revealed dust plumes from Ingenuity upon takeoff and landing.

Then on April 22, Ingenuity flew even higher - 16 feet - and moved sideways for the first time.

The Perseverance rover captured Ingenuity in mid-air during its second flight on April 22, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

During that second flight, Ingenuity snapped its first color image of the Martian surface.

Ingenuity's first aerial color image of Mars. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Ingenuity executed its third flight on Sunday, reaching an airspeed of about 4.5 miles per hour.

Ingenuity's third flight "was nothing short of amazing," David Lavery, the project's program executive, said. "With this flight, we are demonstrating critical capabilities that will enable the addition of an aerial dimension to future Mars missions."

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter can be seen hovering during its third flight on April 25, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech

Ingenuity's third flight "was nothing short of amazing," David Lavery, the project's program executive, said. "With this flight, we are demonstrating critical capabilities that will enable the addition of an aerial dimension to future Mars missions."

The helicopter even managed to spy on Perseverance from the air during its third flight.

NASA’s Perseverance rover is visible in the upper left corner of this image that the Ingenuity helicopter took during its third flight on Mars, April 25, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech

It's next planned journey is even more ambitious: During the 117-second flight, the rotorcraft will attempt to reach a record speed of 3.5 meters per second (7.8 mph).

This artist's concept shows the Ingenuity helicopter on the Martian surface. NASA/JPL-Caltech

A handful of recent discoveries have changed our understanding of how the T. rex hunted, roamed, and grew

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

NASA's Mars helicopter has beamed back an otherworldly collection of photos and video from its first few flights

Ingenuity has soared over the Martian surface three times in the last 12 days. The 4-pound, tissue-box-sized helicopter was scheduled for a fourth flight on Thursday, but it did not get off the ground.

Even if Ingenuity lands safely from both the fourth and fifth flights, that would still be the end its epic 8-month journey.

Ingenuity started to test its carbon-fiber rotor blades on April 8.

The issue that prevented Ingenuity's fourth flight on Thursday might be related to a problem first found when the helicopter attempted a full-speed test of its blades on April 9, before its initial flight.

After the software fix, Ingenuity made history on April 19, when it took flight for the first time. It hovered 10 feet above the Martian surface for about 30 seconds.

Two cameras on the bottom of Ingenuity recorded a still, black-and-white image of the Martian surface during the flight - complete with the helicopter's shadow.

A camera on the Perseverance rover captured the flight in exquisite color.

Footage from a camera on Perseverance's mast revealed dust plumes from Ingenuity upon takeoff and landing.

Then on April 22, Ingenuity flew even higher - 16 feet - and moved sideways for the first time.

During that second flight, Ingenuity snapped its first color image of the Martian surface.

Ingenuity executed its third flight on Sunday, reaching an airspeed of about 4.5 miles per hour.

Ingenuity's third flight "was nothing short of amazing," David Lavery, the project's program executive, said. "With this flight, we are demonstrating critical capabilities that will enable the addition of an aerial dimension to future Mars missions."

The helicopter even managed to spy on Perseverance from the air during its third flight.

It's next planned journey is even more ambitious: During the 117-second flight, the rotorcraft will attempt to reach a record speed of 3.5 meters per second (7.8 mph).