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 24, 2017
Women have made great inroads in aerospace finance and management, but they remain woefully underrepresented on the technical side of the industry.
Mar 24, 2017
French Guianese workers say launchpad construction is not employing enough local workers
Mar 24, 2017
In this week’s Washington Outlook: Deterring plausibly deniable attacks in space may involve actions on the ground.
Mar 22, 2017
Trump administration’s views on climate change may curtail NASA Earth-observation satellite missions.
Mar 21, 2017
Most of the toughest engineering challenges have been tackled, 80% of structural element designs are finished, and Lockheed investments in facilities, labs and personnel certifications can help speed readiness for complex deep-space missions.
Mar 20, 2017
Launch service operators and satellite manufacturers stand to benefit from electric-propulsion satellites.
Mar 18, 2017
Charles F. Bolden, a U.S. Marine Corps aviator, NASA astronaut and the 12th administrator of the U.S. space agency, is the 2017 recipient of the Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mar 17, 2017
Republicans want more dollars for the military. Democrats are unlikely to lift budget caps for defense.