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 24, 2024
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A Google-backed nonprofit is leaning heavily on deploying artificial intelligence to detect fires.
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Landing of the Starship upper stage is targeted for early 2025.
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SpaceX racked up its 97th and 98th flights of the year with a pair of Starlink deployment missions, surpassing 2023's record of 96.
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The UAE is participating with its first UAE Space Pavilion at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).