Perseverance Mars rover

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance is scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet on Feb. 18, 2021. The new rover will search for signs of habitable environments on Mars and evidence of past microbial life. It will also cache samples of the Red Planet to return to Earth for a future Mars sample-return mission. See the latest news about NASA's Perseverance Mars rover here!

Related topics: Mars (opens in new tab), Curiosity rover (opens in new tab), ExoMars (opens in new tab)

Latest Updates

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, as photographed by the Perseverance rover on April 19, 2021 — the day Ingenuity made the first-ever powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on a world beyond Earth.

More Mars helicopters? NASA is already thinking about Ingenuity's successors

By Mike Wall published

NASA is already working to map out the bright exploration future opened up by its little Mars helicopter.

This still image from NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars shows the Mars Helicopter Ingenuity hovering above the Martian surface during its historic first flight on April 19, 2021.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter aced an 'absolutely beautiful flight' on Mars. Here's the video.

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity just made aviation history, and its robotic buddy caught the whole thing on video.

An image captured by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter shows the vehicle's shadow on the surface of the Red Planet.

Arnold Schwarzenegger tells NASA to 'Get to the choppa!' for 1st Mars helicopter flight

By Chelsea Gohd published

Arnold Schwarzenegger had some important words for NASA ahead of the historic first flight of the agency's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity.

An image captured by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter shows the vehicle's shadow on the surface of the Red Planet.

Behold! NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity snaps stunning photo from its 1st flight.

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has made its historic first Red Planet flight — and the photos are unbelievable.

An image captured by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter shows the vehicle's shadow on the surface of the Red Planet.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity takes off on historic 1st powered flight on another world

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter lifted off on the Red Planet early this morning (April 19), performing the first-ever powered flight on a world beyond Earth.

This image from NASA’s Perseverance rover shows the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter right after it successfully completed a high-speed spin-up test on April 16, 2021.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity is ready to make its first flight attempt Monday

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

The big day is nearly here for the team behind NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, who've spent six years developing the first aircraft to fly on the Red Planet.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity, seen here in a close-up view from the Perseverance rover, will attempt its first flight on April 19, 2021.

NASA may attempt 1st Mars helicopter flight on Monday

By Tariq Malik published

The first helicopter on Mars is once again ready to attempt an historic flight on another world.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is seen on the surface of the Red Planet by the perseverance rover on April 5, 2021.

How to watch the Mars helicopter Ingenuity's first flight online

By Elizabeth Howell published

The first helicopter is expected to attempt the first-ever flight on Mars on Monday (April 19), with NASA unveiling the results a day later, and you can follow it all online.

An image of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter captured on April 16, 2021, by the Mars Perseverance rover's Left Mastcam-Z camera.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity aces troublesome spin test

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's experimental Mars helicopter Ingenuity nailed a crucial spin test after the first try ended abruptly, delaying the chopper's groundbreaking flight attempt.

A mosaic released by the Perseverance rover's Twitter account shows rocks located at the robot's overlook site.

As NASA troubleshoots its Mars helicopter, Perseverance rover keeps busy

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Ingenuity helicopter's first flight on Mars has been delayed, but NASA's Red Planet teams are staying busy with the larger Perseverance mission.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is seen on the surface of the Red Planet by the perseverance rover on April 5, 2021.

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity won't fly until next week at the earliest

By Mike Wall published

The team will modify and reinstall Ingenuity's flight-control software.

Students can create an Ingenuity helicopter video game with NASA's new learning guide.

Teach your kids to code a Mars helicopter game with this NASA guide

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA has shared a new learning guide for students to create their own video game to explore Mars with a helicopter like Ingenuity, which is expected to make its debut flight this week.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is seen by the Perseverance rover after unlocking its rotor blades on April 7, 2021.

NASA delays Mars helicopter Ingenuity's 1st flight to April 14

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA has delayed the first flight of its Mars helicopter Ingenuity after the vehicle's last test ended earlier than planned.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter does a slow spin test of its blades on April 8, 2021, the 48th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. This image was captured by the Mastcam-Z on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover.

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity is about to make history in the skies of another world

By Chelsea Gohd published

NASA is about to make history on the Red Planet with the first controlled, helicopter flight on another world.

Artist's illustration of NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flying on the Red Planet.

How NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity can fly on the Red Planet

By Mike Wall published

Flying on Mars is far from a breeze, but NASA is confident that its little helicopter is up to the challenge.

NASA shows you how to build your own paper version of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

Make your own Mars helicopter Ingenuity out of paper with this NASA guide!

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA is preparing to fly its Mars helicopter Ingenuity on the Red Planet for the first time, and students can join in the excitement by building paper versions of the craft at home.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter performs a spin test of its blades on April 8, 2021. This image was captured by the Mastcam-Z on NASA's Perseverance Mars rover.

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity is 'go' for historic 1st flight

By Elizabeth Howell published

Humanity's first helicopter on Mars has been cleared for a historic takeoff.

The Perseverance rover captured this image of the Ingenuity helicopter during preflight preparations on April 9, 2021.

Watch NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity test its blades! (video)

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity is warming up its rotor blades as the team's engineers undertake final preparations for the first-ever flight on the Red Planet, scheduled for Sunday (April 11).

Citizen scientist Seán Doran created this mosaic of NASA's Mars rover Perseverance and Ingenuity helicopter, using 62 images captured by Perseverance on April 6, 2021.

Helicopter on Mars! NASA webcast teaches kids about Ingenuity's upcoming 1st flight

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA’s education team hosted a special webcast for students on Thursday (April 8) to talk about the Mars helicopter Ingenuity and its upcoming first flight on the Red Planet.

Blades on the Ingenuity Mars helicopter during the unlocking process, as seen on Apr. 8, 2021.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity unlocks its rotor blades to prepare for 1st flight on Red Planet

By Meghan Bartels published

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity has unlocked its two rotor blades as preparations continue for the vehicle's first flight, due to occur no earlier than Sunday (April 11).