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
Jul 29, 2019
Feeling mounting threats against its space assets, French government launches dedicated defense effort.
Jul 29, 2019
XTI picks Catalyst; Continental joins VerdeGo; Vision-assisted autoland; Archinaut makes in space; Sunlight powers LightSail 2
Jul 25, 2019
Bulgarian F-16 deal vetoed; Colombia seeks fighter bids; Malaysia seeks navy helos and ULA delays milspace launches
Jul 25, 2019
Chris Kraft wrote the book on human spaceflight operations; few were better students than Bill Gerstenmaier.
Jul 23, 2019
Airbus UK’s Bird of Prey concept will never fly, but may inspire more unconventional approaches to future aircraft design.
Jul 22, 2019
A piece of space history rescued from a remote Zambian villager’s roof is now becoming part of a Moon landings limited edition commemorative watch.
Jul 22, 2019
The smallsat market could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27% over the next decade, and Washington wants to make sure the sector remains U.S.-dominant.
Jul 22, 2019
The FAA is assessing how to regulate the nascent spaceport industry, including how to make it work with the current aviation traffic structure.