AeroVironment, Inc. (AV), in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has introduced Skyfall, a new mission concept that could redefine how Mars is explored from the air.
Designed as a next-generation evolution of the technology behind the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, Skyfall aims to support the United States’ future crewed missions to the Red Planet by autonomously scouting potential landing zones.
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How will it works?
The Skyfall concept proposes the deployment of six autonomous rotorcraft on the Martian surface, each tasked with independently surveying candidate landing sites identified by NASA and the private sector. These sites are under consideration for future human missions, and the helicopters would collect high-resolution imaging and sub-surface radar data.
The information would be transmitted back to Earth to help assess terrain safety and the availability of critical resources such as water and ice—factors essential for supporting human activity on Mars.
A key innovation at the center of the concept is the “Skyfall Maneuver.” This technique would see the helicopters deployed directly from their entry capsule as it descends through the Martian atmosphere. Each rotorcraft would then use its own power to complete the descent, thereby removing the need for a traditional landing platform.
This change could significantly reduce both the cost and technical risk of the mission, as landing platforms have historically been among the most complex elements of Mars exploration missions.
“Skyfall offers a revolutionary new approach to Mars exploration that is faster and more affordable than anything that’s come before it,” said William Pomerantz, Head of Space Ventures at AeroVironment. “Thanks to a true partnership between industry and government, we’re expanding the unprecedented success of Ingenuity.”
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Building upon the giant
This new concept builds upon the success of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which was jointly developed by AV and JPL. Originally intended as a short technology demonstration, Ingenuity completed 72 flights over nearly three years, exceeding its original flight and durability targets by more than 14 and 32 times, respectively.
According to AV, the Skyfall mission will benefit from many of the lessons learned during the Ingenuity program, including lightweight aircraft design optimized for Mars’ thin atmosphere.
Additionally, as part of their ongoing collaboration, JPL is expected to transfer select elements from the Ingenuity development—such as avionics, flight software, and aerodynamic modeling—into the Skyfall project. These technologies would be commercialized by AV for integration into the new rotorcraft system.
“Ingenuity established the US as the first and only country to achieve powered flight on another planet. Skyfall builds on that promise, providing detailed, actionable data from an aerial perspective that will not only be of use planning for future crewed missions, but can also benefit the planetary science community in their search for evidence that life once existed on Mars,” said Trace Stevenson, President of Autonomous Systems at AeroVironment.
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The company
AeroVironment, listed on the NASDAQ as AVAV, is a defense technology firm with a focus on autonomous systems across multiple domains, including air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The company is known for delivering integrated technologies and operational solutions for both current defense needs and emerging space-related applications.
The Skyfall mission is part of the company’s space portfolio, which includes capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and satellite operations. AeroVironment’s work in this sector includes laser-based space communication systems, advanced surveillance tools, and phased array antennas, which support satellite command, telemetry, and electronic warfare missions.
With favorable Mars launch windows approaching in the next few years, AV has already initiated internal development and coordination efforts with JPL. If approved, the Skyfall system could be ready for launch as early as 2028.
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