Nasa’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity soars higher and longer on second flight

It achieved the intended altitude of 16ft (five metres) and even accelerated sideways 7ft (two metres).

The Mars Ingenuity helicopter hovers above the surface of the planet during its second flight. Picture: Nasa/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS via AP

Nasa’s Mars helicopter has aced its second test flight, soaring even higher and longer than before.

The 4lbs (1.8kg) aircraft, named Ingenuity, hovered longer and also flew side to side this time, according to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.