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 21, 2016
United Launch Alliance is taking the first steps along an alternate path involving recovery of only the first-stage engines.
Sep 21, 2016
The recent accident that destroyed a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket offers competing launch service providers an opportunity to tout their relative strengths.
Sep 21, 2016
New head of Germany’s DLR space agency and her colleagues across Europe lobby for money to fund future projects.
Sep 16, 2016
While Iridium has been able to raise the $3 billion needed to build and orbit the new system, which includes spares for backup, getting back to space has been a challenge.
Sep 15, 2016
Satellite fleet operators old and new see rising growth in aeronautic, maritime broadband.
Sep 14, 2016
Despite SpaceX and Blue Origin’s advances on reusable engines, the 16 old space shuttle engines are the only way right now to power flight crews into space.
Sep 14, 2016
Still to be revealed are the payload masses for Blue Origin’s two New Glenn variants. Both versions of the new launcher will have a 23-ft. diameter. The two-stage version will stand 270 ft. tall, while the three-stage vehicle will be 313 ft.