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
Aug 12, 2016
This week's Washington Outlook column discusses Raytheon as a big donor in the New Hampshire and Arizona Senate races, Shuster's tight race in Pennsylvania and SpaceX and Blue Origin’s Washington ties.
Aug 10, 2016
An advanced instrument in development for NASA’s planned 2020 rover, the ‘rock zapper’ will add range, color and sound.
Aug 10, 2016
Astronomers continue to expand our knowledge of the Solar System and beyond with ever-improving instruments. The Hubble Space Telescope continues a process Galileo started that will continue with the James Webb Space Telescope, set for launch in 2018.
Aug 09, 2016
The UAE Space Agency has unveiled details of the National Space Sector Policy.
Aug 06, 2016
The dates for the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi have been changed.
Aug 05, 2016
Firefly Space Systems’ 125,000-lb.-thrust engine will be the first aerospike rocket to fly and is pivotal to the company’s goal of developing a scalable family of relatively simple, lightweight launchers for the small satellite market.
Aug 05, 2016
This week's Washington Outlook column discusses how the next president can best secure a budget deal, FAA's certification of Moon Express and Virgin, and the presidential candidates' mixed messages on space policy.
Aug 04, 2016
New constellations of Earth-observing smallsats and advanced data-crunching give decision-makers new tools for dealing with a changing planet.