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SkyFall

NASA’s next Mars helicopters will survey the Red Planet to collect science data and scout areas to uncover clues about climate history and the presence of potential subsurface ice.

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Mission Statistics

Launch Date

2028

Type

Airborne

Target

Mars

Status

Future

About the mission

Building on the success of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the agency’s SkyFall mission will send three rotorcraft to investigate the geology and climate history of the Red Planet. Equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, these aerial scouts will map hidden ice deposits and analyze weather patterns. SkyFall will also demonstrate how aerial vehicles can generate wide terrain and subsurface maps to identify safe and resource-rich destinations for future missions.

Instruments

  • Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR)
  • Visible-Light Cameras (13MP Color)
  • Near-IR Cameras
  • Air Temperature Sensors
  • Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Micro Dosimeter

NASA’s SkyFall mission will build on the success of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which achieved the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. Using a daring mid-air deployment, SkyFall will deliver a team of next-gen Mars helicopters to scout potential landing sites for future exploration and map subsurface water ice. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech