NASA's SkyFall helicopters will 'show us parts of Mars we've never seen before', scientists say

NASA is speeding up the creation of three Mars helicopters, known as SkyFall, which will explore parts of the planet never seen before. The SkyFall helicopters will be launched aboard NASA's nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, SR-1 Freedom, in 2028. After being dropped off at Mars' northern hemisphere during its spring season to avoid dust storms, the helicopters will conduct investigations to address science objectives and prepare for human exploration of Mars.

The SkyFall mission will consist of three identical helicopters, which will be deployed at varying altitudes and land independently in a broader exploration zone. The helicopters, similar in design to the successful Ingenuity rover, will have a range of up to 185 miles (300 kilometers) and are capable of flying every other sol for up to one Earth year.

The helicopters will carry five instruments to investigate subsurface structure, geomorphology, geology, meteorology, and radiation environment. AeroVironment, in partnership with JPL, is building the SkyFall helicopters, aiming to make Mars helicopters a repeatable product line.