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
Sep 23, 2020
Discovery of potential biomarker in Venusian atmosphere raises new questions in search for life beyond Earth.
Sep 16, 2020
Corporate exhibits at the Air Force Association's (AFA) virtual Air Space and Cyber conference offered quiet revelations—among them, actual footage…
Sep 15, 2020
France’s fledgling Space Command launches major effort in Earth-orbit surveillance and satellite defense.
Sep 11, 2020
ASECNA, NIGCOMSAT Ltd and Thales Alenia Space take a crucial step towards the provision of satellite navigation services in the Africa & Indian Ocean region.
Sep 11, 2020
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Sep 11, 2020
Mars exploration advocates tackle racism and diversity.
Sep 10, 2020
Arianespace enters smallsat ride-share service while Rocket Lab debuts Photon satellite.
Sep 09, 2020
U.S. agency is expanding partnerships, adding new weather-monitoring technologies and moving to cloud-based data services.