NASA's 2028 Mars mission will use helicopters for planet exploration
NASA and AeroVironment are shaking things up for a potential 2028 Mars mission, Skyfall.
Instead of a big landing platform, they're sending six autonomous scout helicopters that'll drop down using a new "Skyfall Maneuver."
Each one will fly itself to the Martian surface—saving money and making exploration way more flexible.
The choppers will explore possible landing sites for future human missions
These choppers aren't just for show—they'll explore possible landing sites for future human missions.
By sending back sharp images and radar scans, they'll help NASA spot vital resources like water and ice, which are key for astronaut safety and science experiments.
Skyfall takes everything learned from the Ingenuity helicopter
Skyfall takes everything learned from the Ingenuity helicopter (which nailed 72 flights on Mars) and turns it up a notch.
With new tech and smarter deployment, all six copters can cover more ground independently—making Mars mapping faster and cheaper than ever.
It's a big step toward actually putting humans on Mars
With detailed data from all six helicopters at once, NASA can make safer landing plans and get more out of every mission.
It's a big step toward actually putting humans on Mars someday.