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
Nov 21, 2014
NASA’s go-as-you-can-pay approach to exploration-system development means the heavy-lift Space Launch System in development to carry Orion beyond low Earth orbit and eventually on to Mars is very much a work in progress, starting with the engines.
Nov 20, 2014
Ahead of merger, ATK assessed “political risks” of Orbital's new engine choice.
Nov 19, 2014
The inevitable has happened in the U.S. attempt to move the economy off the planet. That it happened twice in a week is driving a needed element of reality into the endeavor.
Nov 17, 2014
As the probe's last science data was relayed to Earth Nov. 15, its power rapidly depleted.
Nov 17, 2014
One is powered, the other is a glider, otherwise French and U.S. concepts for affordably air-launching small satellites look pretty similar.
Nov 17, 2014
The future of A&D is looking good judging by the accomplishments and drive of the young innovators—the lifeblood of the next generation—in this Aviation Week-Raytheon feature.
Nov 17, 2014
B.S. candidate in Aerospace Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Class of 2016
Nov 17, 2014
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2009; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2015, both from Massachusetts Institute of Technology