UV-sensitive material could harden the wing structure by being exposed to sunlight.

Researchers propose an inflatable sailplane to explore Mars

Martian Sailplane

Researchers at the University of Arizona designed an inflatable sailplane that could explore Mars at a fraction of the cost of a rover or satellite.

Researchers Propose An Inflatable Sailplane to Explore Mars

It could accelerate Mars exploration at a fraction of the cost of current missions.

RYUKI _Phobos_Deimos_Forming_Impact

Off World

An international team of researchers have proposed a solid theory that may explain the nature of Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Little Big Splat: Giant Impact May Have Formed the Moons of Mars

A new video of Masten Space System’s Xodiac and Xaero B rockets shows impressive capability and maneuverability, and these could be the crafts that allow us to explore other worlds in a way never before possible. 

Engineers Created Tiny, Hovering Reusable Rockets

Scientists with the New Horizons mission have learned that Pluto’s interaction with the solar wind is more nearly Earth-like than was previously believed.

Pluto Serves up Another Surprise—An Enormous Earth-Like Tail

The tiny dwarf planet is full of surprises, this time behaving like a weird hybrid comet-planet.

A joint statement by the ESA and Roscosmos has announced the delay of the second phase of the European-Russian ExoMars mission from 2018 to 2020—likely a reflection of the technical difficulties in meeting the planned mission requirements.

/ / planetary-exploration

Researchers Propose An Inflatable Sailplane to Explore Mars

Little Big Splat: Giant Impact May Have Formed the Moons of Mars

Engineers Created Tiny, Hovering Reusable Rockets

Pluto Serves up Another Surprise—An Enormous Earth-Like Tail

Martian Aliens Must Wait—ExoMars Mission Delayed Two Years

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