The Mars helicopter “Ingenuity” has completed its tenth and, according to the US space agency NASA, “most complex” flight to date.
The mini-helicopter rose to twelve meters - higher than ever before - changed direction four times and took ten color photos before landing again elsewhere, NASA announced on Wednesday.
Overall, the flight, which had already taken place on July 24 and is also intended to serve as an exploration for possible research excursions by the rover “Perseverance”, lasted almost three minutes.
An eleventh flight could start this week.
“Ingenuity” (in German roughly: ingenuity) landed on board the rover “Perseverance” (in German roughly: staying power) with a risky maneuver on Mars at the end of February.
It took off for the first time in mid-April - making it the first aircraft to fly on another planet.
The mission, originally planned to last around 30 days, has been extended.