NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity: What you need to know before its first flight Jackson Ryan, provided by FacebookTwitterEmail 2of17 NASA's Ingenuity helicopter gets set to explore Mars In the coming days, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter will make a historic attempt at the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. The space agency is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, April 14, for this first flight attempt.Here, the Ingenuity helicopter can be seen on Mars as viewed by the Perseverance rover's rear hazard camera on April 4, 2021.CBSI/CNETShow MoreShow Less 3of17 4of17Prior to its deployment, Ingenuity was tucked inside the Perseverance rover. That allowed the helicopter to charge its battery and heat itself using the power of the rover, which kept the interior at about 45 degrees Fahrenheit through the cold Martian nights, when temperatures can drop to as low as minus 130 F.CBSI/CNETShow MoreShow Less