<p class="title">The US space agency said today it plans to launch the first-ever helicopter to Mars in 2020, a miniature, unmanned drone-like chopper that could boost our understanding of the Red Planet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Known simply as "The Mars Helicopter," the device weighs less than four pounds (1.8 kilograms), and its main body section, or fuselage, is about the size of a softball.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It will be attached to the belly pan of the Mars 2020 rover, a wheeled robot that aims to determine the habitability of the Martian environment, search for signs of ancient life, and assess natural resources and hazards for future human explorers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mars 2020 is planned for launch in July 2020 with an arrival on the surface of Mars expected in February 2021.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"NASA has a proud history of firsts," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The idea of a helicopter flying the skies of another planet is thrilling." No nation has ever flown an helicopter on Mars before. </p>
<p class="title">The US space agency said today it plans to launch the first-ever helicopter to Mars in 2020, a miniature, unmanned drone-like chopper that could boost our understanding of the Red Planet.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Known simply as "The Mars Helicopter," the device weighs less than four pounds (1.8 kilograms), and its main body section, or fuselage, is about the size of a softball.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It will be attached to the belly pan of the Mars 2020 rover, a wheeled robot that aims to determine the habitability of the Martian environment, search for signs of ancient life, and assess natural resources and hazards for future human explorers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mars 2020 is planned for launch in July 2020 with an arrival on the surface of Mars expected in February 2021.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"NASA has a proud history of firsts," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The idea of a helicopter flying the skies of another planet is thrilling." No nation has ever flown an helicopter on Mars before. </p>