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
Jan 15, 2026
Following a banner year of satellite launches and two reusable launch attempts, China appears poised to demonstrate more cutting-edge tech on orbit in 2026.
Jan 14, 2026
Startup sees space-based radar as cheaper than aircraft-based AWACs.
Jan 11, 2026
NASA sets Jan. 17 as the "no earlier than" date for the roll out of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule to be used for the Artemis II mission to take four astronauts around the Moon.
Jan 09, 2026
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Jan 08, 2026
Rocket Lab joins established primes as the U.S. Space Development Agency scales its proliferated missile-warning and tracking architecture.
Jan 07, 2026
The cover of the issue dated January 26, 1970, showed a boilerplate version of an advanced upper-stage hybrid rocket engine that developed 8,000-lb. thrust during a 35-second firing at United Technology Center's Coyote, California's facility.
Jan 06, 2026
Pictured on the front cover of the January 19, 1976 issue was the RCA 24-channel communications satellite undergoing an RF subsystem checkout on a communications test range.
Jan 06, 2026
Aviation Week Network has announced the recipients for the Space category of the 68th Annual Laureate Awards, which recognizes exceptional achievements in the global aerospace industry.