ScienceWithout new landers or rovers, it's helicopters or bust for NASA's Mars program
For the first time in more than 30 years, NASA has no firm plans for another Mars lander or rover. Its near-term focus is aerial exploration, with the three-helicopter SkyFall mission potentially launching in late 2028 alongside the Space Reactor-1 “Freedom” mission, which aims to demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space.
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Ars Technica★★★☆☆2026-09-01 11:00Original
Without new landers or rovers, it's helicopters or bust for NASA's Mars program
Science