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
Jun 14, 2024
Anders’ photograph of “Earthrise” and his words remind us even now how small the planet is and how beautiful it is in depthless space.
Jun 14, 2024
It will take some luck for Boeing to be ready to fly its first ISS crew rotation mission as early as February.
Jun 14, 2024
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Jun 13, 2024
With funding from an NTT Docomo-led consortium, Aalto is moving more quickly into production of the solar-powered stratospheric aircraft.
Jun 11, 2024
The successful demonstration positions SpaceX for a quick turnaround for Integrated Flight Test 5.
Jun 11, 2024
Ariane 6 will undergo a wet dress rehearsal at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on June 18.
Jun 10, 2024
The UAE’s flagship satellite company Yahsat announced today it has contracted Airbus Defence and Space for its new geostationary telecommunications satellites, Al Yah 4 (“AY4”) and Al Yah 5 (“AY5”).
Jun 06, 2024
The cover of our May 14, 1979 edition featured a photo of Enterprise, the engineless test space shuttle, mounted on Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.