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
Oct 22, 2015
NASA reveals more of its thinking for the push to Mars, including a 2026 robotic lander to test landing techniques and a manned mission to Phobos.
Oct 21, 2015
What can we mine in space? And will it really deliver world peace, or just another realm for competition and conflict? Perhaps a look at the immediate past and near future may help us answer some of these questions.
Oct 21, 2015
SpaceX’s new respect for the difficulty of the space-launch business might explain why it has decided to reverse the order of payloads scheduled for return to flight, affording a chance to test the rocket’s new and improved upper stage.
Oct 21, 2015
The 1,500-kg platform is in an advanced stage of development and is ready to bring to market, where IAI will target low-cost, dual-manifest missions on the SpaceX Falcon 9.
Oct 21, 2015
International space conference illuminated the higher aspirations of space exploration while being shadowed by ongoing Earth-bound conflict.
Oct 20, 2015
Though late and costly, Sbirs is sparking an “explosion” in uses for satellite infrared data for intelligence.
Oct 19, 2015
Scientists expected the north polar region of Enceladus to be heavily cratered, based on low-resolution images from the Voyager mission, but the new high-resolution Cassini images show a landscape of stark contrasts.
Oct 16, 2015
Scientists, engineers and students from around the world gathered in Jerusalem Oct. 12-16 for the 66th International Astronautical Congress. Civil space is at a turning point, with ambitious new plans unfolding as old ones bear fruit. Senior space editor Frank Morring, Jr., and Paris Bureau Chief Amy Svitak took a moment to describe what they learned about the changes at this year’s IAC.