NASA’s SkyFall Helicopters Preparing for Mars Mission

An artist’s concept shows NASA’s three SkyFall Mars helicopters collecting data while flying over the Red Planet. Green frequency waves from the helicopters’ large antennas represent collection of subsurface radar data, while red beams depict near-infrared imagery of regolith (crushed rock and dust) and other surface features. Each helicopter will carry four instruments. The SkyFall helicopters will follow in the footsteps of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which flew 72 times over nearly three years, proving powered, controlled flight is possible in Mars’s thin atmosphere and helping the Perseverance rover plan routes and select science sites. SkyFall is expected to launch aboard NASA’s Space Reactor-1 Freedom in late 2028 and to arrive at Mars in December 2028. The project is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; AeroVironment of Arlington, Virginia will co-design and co-manufacture the craft. JPL is managed by Caltech for NASA.