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
Mar 01, 2019
As NASA gears up for first U.S. human spaceflights since 2011, a training tool from the ‘60s is back in vogue.
Feb 28, 2019
Jean-Pascal Le Franc, CNES Director of Planning, International Relations and Quality, and Valanathan Munsami, CEO of the South African National Space Agency SANSA, signed an agreement outlining future space cooperation between France and South Africa in Pretoria.
Feb 22, 2019
China’s Insitu look-alike, HAL displays utility helo mockup; the U.S. Air Force’s space force, and Saab may sign on to UK fighter concept.
Feb 22, 2019
One of Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties in 2014 is now a mechanical test engineering manager for Northrop Grumman’s James Webb Space Telescope program.
Feb 21, 2019
Company takes on Iridium, GlobalStar with cheap narrowband communications via nanosatellites.
Feb 20, 2019
With the market for large geostationary satellites in a slump, heritage companies expand options for smallsat ride-shares.
Feb 19, 2019
Lured by the prospect of thousands of small satellites needing rides to orbit, private launchers line up.
Feb 18, 2019
Perhaps the gods of capitalism demanded one real sacrifice on the altar of total shareholder return. If so, let us hope Arconic satiates them.