NASA's Ingenuity helicopter could pave way for future rover-drone tandem missions Over the course of its mission, Ingenuity is expected to make five attempted flights each lasting for about 90 seconds at a stretch. Share Via Email | A+A A- This NASA photo shows members of NASA’s Perseverance rover team as they react in mission control after receiving confirmation the spacecraft successfully touched down on Mars| AFP By PTI NEW DELHI: With the successful landing of its Perseverance Mars rover on Friday, NASA is set to become the first global space agency to fly a drone in the atmosphere of another planet, an advance which could pave the way for future "tandem-exploration" missions that include new terrestrial and aerial surveillance methods.