“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
More Space Content From Aviation Week & Space Technology
Jan 22, 2026
NASA is aiming to send a crew of four into deep space for the first time since 1972.
Jan 22, 2026
Senior editor Craig Covault interviewed Alan Stern, overall lead manager and principal investigator for the Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft, for a feature in the issue dated January 9, 2006.
Jan 20, 2026
Editors are joined by Russ Matijevich, space industry veteran and a judge in the Space Tech Challenge Awards. Nominations are now open—could your solution be a winner?
Jan 16, 2026
An unspecified but nonemergency concern has prompted an early end to the SpaceX Crew-11 mission.
Jan 15, 2026
Following a banner year of satellite launches and two reusable launch attempts, China appears poised to demonstrate more cutting-edge tech on orbit in 2026.
Jan 14, 2026
Startup sees space-based radar as cheaper than aircraft-based AWACs.
Jan 11, 2026
NASA sets Jan. 17 as the "no earlier than" date for the roll out of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule to be used for the Artemis II mission to take four astronauts around the Moon.
Jan 09, 2026
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.