Mars 2020: Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter

A Mars Science rover mission, to use the opportunity of the perihelic 2020 Mars Apparition. Mission consists of an advanced Mars Rover, Perseverance, and the first Mars helicopter, Ingenuity. The spacecraft was successfully launched on July 30, 2020. After a successful interplanetary cruise, it arrived at Mars on February 18, 2021, and performed a successful softlanding on Mars surface. Both the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter successfully started to operate on Mars. Ingenuity helicopter deployed April 3, first flight April 19, 2021. It performed a total of 72 flights at low altitude in Mars' atmosphere during almost 3 years, the last occurring on January 20, 2024. Total distance flown was about 10.5 miles (17 km), with altitudes reached up to 78.7 ft (24 meters). Preseverance rover is still operational as of March 2025.

.. more to come soon ..

• Mars 2020, Perseverance, Ingenuity information (NSSDC)

• Nasa Announce of Multi-Year Mars Program;
• Mars Future Rover Plans and news (JPL);
• 2020 Mission Plans (JPL)

Last Modification: March 29, 2025