Skyfall: AV’s new Mars helicopters could scout out safe places for humans to land
July 25, 2025
Helicopters aren’t restricted to flying on Earth; they also fly on Mars. US defence contractor, AeroVironment, has unveiled a new concept for a next-generation Mars helicopter as part of exploring the Red Planet and landing humans on Mars before 2030.
New concept for Mars Helicopter unveiled
While SpaceX may be prominently in the news developing the Starship to explore Mars, it is far from the only tech company working to conquer the Red Planet.
On 25th July, AeroVironment posted, “We made history with Ingenuity, the first powered flight on another planet. Now, we’re ready to do it again.”
The tech company released a video introducing Skyfall, a potential future Mars mission concept being developed with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the next-gen Mars Helicopters.
AeroVironment says the new Mars chopper will be able to explore resources, scout potential landing sites, and prepare the way for the United States’ first Martian astronauts.
The concept is “heavily focused on rapidly delivering an affordable, technically mature solution for expanded Mars exploration.” It is expected to be ready for launch by 2028.
It will also be the first to use the “Skyfall Manoeuvre,” a landing technique where the six Martian rotorcraft deploy from their entry capsule as it descends through Mars’ atmosphere.
AV: Building on the success of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter
The new Mars Helicopter concept builds on AeroVironment’s and NASA’s previous success set by the inspiring Ingenuity Mars Helicopter program.
Ingenuity set a new standard for space exploration, being the first helicopter to fly in the limited atmosphere of Mars. The program was completed on time and within budget. On Mars, it completed 72 flights at Mars’ Jezero Crater over almost three years between 2021 and 2024.
The small aircraft outperformed flight targets by more than 14 times and longevity targets by more than 32 times expectations. To date, the US remains the only country to achieve powered flight on another world.
The new Skyfall concept is designed to deploy six scout helicopters on Mars. The concept includes each helicopter having the ability to operate independently and relaying high-resolution imaging to Earth. This will include sub-surface radar data.
The intel will help NASA ensure the landings are made at safe locations and where there are maximum amounts of water, ice, and other resources. The information will also help answer the persistent question of whether Mars was ever habitable.
Beyond the moon, exploring Mars
NASA states, “Mars remains our horizon goal for human exploration because it is one of the only other places we know where life may have existed in the solar system.”
Meanwhile, SpaceX remains laser-focused on exploring Mars. It is leveraging its vast empire of lifting payloads into low-earth orbit, flying astronauts on the Dragon space capsule, and moon missions to realise Mars as its ultimate goal.
SpaceX plans to launch the first Starships to Mars in 2026 as the forerunners to future crew and cargo deliveries to the planet.
SpaceX says, “Establishing a self-sufficient city on Mars will require upwards of one million people and millions of tonnes of cargo to be delivered to the Red planet.” It adds that there will be a need for several thousand Starships to maintain a lasting colony on Mars.
AeroVironment’s new Skyfall concept builds on Ingenuity and is one more piece of the puzzle as part of a broader effort to colonise Mars involving NASA, SpaceX, and many others.
