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 23, 2021
“This is the first powered flight on another planet. Let that blow your mind for a minute.”
Apr 23, 2021
A glimpse of historic Mars missions since 1965 documented in the AW&ST digital archives.
Apr 22, 2021
General warns of Chinese space prototype; U.S. Army wants FVL upgrades; Singapore’s new operational tanker; and T-7 aft fuselage arrives.
Apr 21, 2021
As the U.S. Space Force plans to establish a Space Systems Command this summer, service leadership is already rallying Congress to alter the new command’s reporting structure for two important offices—the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
Apr 21, 2021
While Ariane 6 is overcoming the last technical hurdles, reusability demonstration programs are making progress.
Apr 19, 2021
After a successful first flight of the Ingenuity on Mars, Ellen Stofan, under secretary for science and research at the Smithsonian Institution, talks with Aviation Week editors about the historic nature of the mission, coming 117 years after the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Apr 19, 2021
The nation needs to declassify technology, rely on private industry and compete for routine space missions.
Apr 16, 2021
The clock is ticking for a high-risk, high-reward technology demonstration.