<span style="color: #222222;">NASA's Mars helicopter makes history with successful flight on the Red Planet. As per the U.S. space agency NASA, the miniature robot helicopter Ingenuity performed a successful take off and landing on Mars early today. This is the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft over the surface of another planet.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mission managers at NASA's burst into applause and cheers as data beamed back from Mars confirmed that the 4-pound (1.8-kg) twin-rotor helicopter had performed its maiden 40-second flight as planned .</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The robot rotorcraft was programmed to ascend 10 feet (3 meters) straight up, then hover and rotate in place over the Martian surface for half a minute before settling back down on its four legs. Officials said data returned from Mars showed that this had in fact occurred.</span><br />''  <br />