Mars Helicopter Media Reel

B-roll for media. NASA's Mars Helicopter will be the first aircraft to fly on another planet. It will fly to Mars attached to the belly of NASA’s Mars 2020 rover.

The Mars Helicopter is considered a high-risk, high-reward technology demonstration. If the small craft encounters difficulties, the science-gathering of the Mars 2020 mission won't be impacted. If the helicopter does take flight as designed, future Mars missions could enlist second-generation helicopters to add an aerial dimension to their explorations.

The Mars 2020 rover, with the Mars Helicopter aboard, will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in July or August 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rover will land at Jezero Crater on Mars Feb. 18, 2021.

JPL is building and will manage operations of the Mars 2020 rover and the Mars Helicopter for NASA. NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management. Lockheed Martin Space provided the Mars Helicopter Delivery System.