Without new landers or rovers, it's helicopters or bust for NASA's Mars program
NASA is shifting its Mars exploration strategy toward aerial drones, specifically the upcoming SkyFall mission, as it currently has no plans for new landers or rovers. The mission will utilize nuclear electric propulsion and a fleet of helicopters to explore the planet.
Why it matters
This represents a significant pivot in space exploration technology, moving from ground-based vehicles to autonomous aerial systems.
Bigger and better Without new landers or rovers, it’s helicopters or bust for NASA’s Mars program NASA’s cost estimate for SR-1 Freedom is $2.1 billion, but that doesn’t include the helicopters.
0 One of AeroVironment's prototype Mars helicopters. Credit: AeroVironment One of AeroVironment's prototype Mars helicopters. Credit: AeroVironment Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav For the first time in more than 30 years, NASA has no firm plans to send any new landers or rovers to Mars. Instead, the agency’s near-term focus at the red planet is on aerial drones, a pioneering mode of exploration that didn’t seem realistic until a few years ago.
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