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 13, 2016
JAXA has achieved long-term success for its JEM space lab on the ISS by sticking to its original plan as much as possible, regardless of short-term priorities.
Jul 13, 2016
NASA looks for flexibility in its uses for solar-electric propulsion, in part to avoid political pitfalls.
Jul 12, 2016
Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne project has kick-started the creation of new, vertically integrated, rocket development and manufacturing capabilities in California.
Jul 11, 2016
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has participated in the World Space Risk Forum (WSRF) 2016, the global event that brings together a large number of international experts and specialists in the field of space industry from around the world.
Jul 11, 2016
Design initiatives and lower manufacturing concepts devised for new space are being used for the latest mainstream space projects.
Jul 08, 2016
Like many other developers of small satellites, NovaWurks is waiting for a piggyback launch. But the company benefits from a unique spacecraft design.
Jul 08, 2016
ATC reform left for later; House bill aims to block sale of Boeing aircraft to Iran; lawmakers ask about sending U.S. satellites to orbit on Indian rockets.
Jul 07, 2016
Within days, the spacecraft’s nine instruments will be turned on, but the official science collection phase does not start until October.