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
Apr 30, 2021
First mission is to send an uncrewed Orion capsule into lunar orbit.
Apr 30, 2021
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Apr 30, 2021
Up to five test runs of the rotorcraft are planned by May 4.
Apr 29, 2021
A look at Collins’ career as documented in the pages of Aviation Week & Space Technology.
Apr 29, 2021
The new arrivals temporarily boosted station staffing to 11 people for the first time since 2010.
Apr 27, 2021
A future involving military operations in near-lunar orbit may exploit new Draco reactor.
Apr 26, 2021
As new materials and fuel technology advance, NASA gets serious again about nuclear space propulsion for missions to Mars and beyond.
Apr 23, 2021
“This is the first powered flight on another planet. Let that blow your mind for a minute.”