NASA tests drones in Death Valley | Space photo of the day for Dec. 15, 2025

NASA tests drones in Death Valley | Space photo of the day for Dec. 15, 2025

Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are testing to see if drones and drone software could be used for the future of Mars exploration.

NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley to Prepare for Future Mars Rotorcraft

Desert flight tests help address navigation challenges revealed by the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter NASA is using Earth’s harshest desert environments to prepare the next generation of aerial explorers for Mars. Earlier this year, researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) conducted drone flight tests in Death Valley National Park and California’s Mojave Desert to refine […] The post NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley to Prepare for Fut…

NASA preps Mars helicopter as war shapes defense tech future

It’s always good news when we hear about NASA’s “out-of-this-world” next steps toward building a replacement for Ingenuity, the small Mars helicopter-drone. With 72 flights over 1,004 days, Ingenuity outlived NASA’s expectation of just 30 operational days on Mars. It ended up serving as a trailblazer for the SUV-sized Perseverance rover as it worked its way around Jezero Crater. Built with a large number of smartphone components, it’s actually a…