2021-04-19 18:36:09 GMT2021-04-20 02:36:09(Beijing Time) Xinhua English WASHINGTON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- NASA launched its Mars helicopter Ingenuity from the surface of the Red Planet earlier Monday, marking the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. The solar-powered helicopter first became airborne at 3:34 a.m. Eastern Day Time (EDT) (0734 GMT), a time the Ingenuity team determined would have optimal energy and flight conditions. The Ingenuity team confirmed the flight succeeded after receiving data from the helicopter via NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at 6:46 a.m. EDT. Altimeter data indicates that Ingenuity climbed to its prescribed maximum altitude of three meters and maintained a stable hover for 30 seconds, according to NASA.