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
Nov 02, 2020
Five European countries are now actively exploring or investing in small satellite launch facilities.
Oct 30, 2020
Ask the Editors: Traditional OEMs are likely to maintain a large role in the future of space.
Oct 30, 2020
Nanosatellite bus manufacturer and mission integrator, NanoAvionics - which is working in collaboration with South Africa's Dragonfly Aerospace and CubeCom - has revealed the remaining three payloads of its D-2/AtlaCom-1 rideshare mission hosted on board its M6P 6U nanosatellite bus.
Oct 30, 2020
Why Honeywell Aerospace’s chief sees a bright future for the industry despite today’s COVID-19 woes.
Oct 29, 2020
An enlarged second stage would have two engines and more propellant. Much more payload space can be provided.
Oct 27, 2020
The Oct. 12 launch of the Gaofen-13 satellite highlights China’s growing reconnaissance-strike complex from space.
Oct 23, 2020
Ask the Editors: Three former NASA administrators agree the U.S. space program needs to use nuclear propulsion.
Oct 23, 2020
Samples from asteroid could reveal more about building blocks for life.