First Flight On Mars

On April 19, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter became the first aircraft to fly on another planet.

Our most recent package details the historic first flight of the 4-lb. robotic rotorcraft, which lasted 39.1 seconds, and its follow-up venture on April 22, and looks ahead to its future test program. The technology lays the groundwork for aerial exploration of Mars, an aeronautical feat given the air density of Mars is less than 1% of the density on Earth. See below for more.

“How do we use aerial mobility in the future on Mars, to help not just robotic exploration, but to help human exploration?”
Ellen Stofan
Smithsonian
Oct 23, 2024
Reaching the Moon to do something useful there involves preparation—which is now underway as agencies and companies aim to return humans to the lunar surface.
Oct 18, 2024
Landing of the Starship upper stage is targeted for early 2025.
Oct 18, 2024
A Google-backed nonprofit is leaning heavily on deploying artificial intelligence to detect fires.
Oct 17, 2024
Hypersonic missile defense requires global cooperation. L3Harris is leading the charge through strategic international partnerships in space-based MW/MD technologies.
Oct 17, 2024
SpaceX racked up its 97th and 98th flights of the year with a pair of Starlink deployment missions, surpassing 2023's record of 96.
Oct 14, 2024
Magnets guide construction of geodesic space structures that could be built larger than launch vehicles.
Oct 11, 2024
Commercial remote sensing capabilities are proliferating around the world, but U.S. restrictions could limit its global influence.
Oct 10, 2024
Nelson talks with Aviation Week about the role private companies will play and his concerns about China’s ambitions on the Moon.