Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate 

Build Your Own Mars Helicopter

Suggested Grades: 3-8

Activity Overview

NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars! This helicopter 

is called Ingenuity and is designed to test whether or not 

flight is a good way to study distant bodies in space.

We have sent spacecraft to other planets, but this is the 

first aircraft that will fly on another world. In this 

activity, you will learn about this amazing feat of 

engineering as you build your own Mars helicopter 

model.

Steps

1. The large marshmallow will represent Ingenuity’s fuselage. Ingenuity is fairly small, 

about 19 inches tall and weighing about 4 pounds, and the fuselage is about the size of 

a softball. The fuselage contains batteries, sensors, and cameras to power and control 

Ingenuity’s flight. It is insulated and has heaters to protect the equipment in the cold 

Martian environment where it can reach -130 oC at night.

2. Insert the four toothpicks into the marshmallow so they come out at angles as shown in 

Figure 1. The toothpicks represent the four hollow carbon-fiber legs on Ingenuity. 

Ingenuity’s legs are designed to be lightweight while still supporting the helicopter 

when it’s on the Martian surface. To take up less space, Ingenuity’s legs are folded 

while it’s being carried to Mars.

/

Figure 1. Insert the four toothpicks into the marshmallow to represent Ingenuity's legs.

Time: 30 minutes

Materials

• 1 Large marshmallow

• 4 Small marshmallows

• 5 Toothpicks

• Cardstock (to print out the last 

page of this document)

• Scissors
3. Place a small marshmallow at the end of each of the four toothpicks as shown in Figure 2. 

These make the ends of the legs rounded, just like on Ingenuity. 

The rounded ends of the legs help the helicopter sit firmly, even on mildly uneven ground.

Figure 2. Small marshmallows are added on to the ends of the four toothpicks.

4. Print out the final page of this document on cardstock or other stiff paper. As shown in 

Figure 3, you will need to cut out one set of parts (a solar panel and two rotor blades) for 

each helicopter you are making. NOTE: The final page contains two sets in case you are 

making multiple models – you only need one set per model.

Figure 3. Cut out one set of parts for your helicopter.

5. Make a small hole (see Figure 4) in the middle of each of the parts you cut out in the 

previous step. This can be done using a pushpin or other sharp object. This is to allow the 

toothpick to be pushed through the paper. Be careful poking the hole – you may need the 

assistance of an adult.

Figure 4. Poke a small hole in the center of each of the parts you cut out in the previous step.
6. Push a toothpick through the hole in the center of one of the rotor blades. The rotor blade 

should be about 3/4 of an inch from the end of the toothpick as shown in Figure 5. 

On Ingenuity, each rotor blade is about 4 feet long and rotates very fast (about 2800 

revolutions per minute). The rotor blades need to be this large and rotate so quickly in 

order to create enough lift, the upward force on the helicopter, in the extremely thin 

Martian air.

Figure 5. Push the toothpick through the hole in the center of one of the rotor blades.

7. Push the toothpick through the hole in the second rotor blade and adjust the blades so that 

they are aligned in different directions as shown in Figure 6. There should be a space of 

about 1/8 inch between the two rotors.

Ingenuity has two rotor blades in order to create enough lift. Additionally, the two rotor 

blades rotate, or spin, in opposite directions. Normally when a rotor blade spins, it creates 

a force on the fuselage. By rotating in opposite directions, the forces created by the two 

rotor blades cancel each other out.

Figure 6. Push the toothpick through the second rotor blade and adjust the blades so they are aligned in opposite directions.
8. Push the end of the toothpick with the rotor blades on it through the hole in the center of 

the solar panel as shown in Figure 7. There should be about 1⁄4 inch of the toothpick 

sticking out from the top of the solar panel. This piece of the toothpick represents the 

antenna located atop Ingenuity.

On Ingenuity, the solar panel converts the Sun’s energy into electricity to charge the 

batteries. The antenna allows Ingenuity to communicate with the Mars rover, 

Perseverance, which can then communicate with NASA personnel back on Earth.

Figure 7. The toothpick is pushed through both rotor blades and the solar panel.

9. Push the end of the toothpick which is furthest from the solar panel down through the 

center of the top of the large marshmallow as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. The toothpick containing the rotor blades and the solar panel is pushed through the top of the large marshmallow.
Optional: Put your helicopter on Mars! NASA has sent several rovers to Mars and has made 

many images of the Martian surface available. You can find some of them at:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/images/index.html

You can print out a picture of the Martian surface and display your completed model on that 

picture.

Figure 9. The completed model on the Martian surface

Further Information

The purpose of Ingenuity is to demonstrate that flight is possible on distant worlds such as 

Mars. It will be deployed from the Mars rover, Perseverance, before conducting a series of 

short flights above the Martian surface. Each flight will last only up to 90 seconds and reach 

a maximum altitude of about 15 feet. 

Since there isn’t a consistent magnetic field on Mars, compasses cannot be used for 

navigation. Ingenuity will determine its position by looking at the Sun and the Martian 

surface.

Hopefully, Ingenuity will pave the way for future missions involving flight. Flying rovers 

can study areas of the Martian surface that cannot be reached by ground based rovers. 

Figure 10. Comparison of your model to the actual Mars helicopter.
Mars Helicopter Parts 

Print on cardstock or other stiff paper

Solar Panel

Rotor Blade

Rotor Blade

Solar Panel

Rotor Blade

Rotor Blade