A Copter Companion for the Mars 2020 Rover on This Week @NASA – May 11, 2018 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

NASA plans to send a helicopter to Mars as part of the Mars 2020 rover mission, while actively exploring the Moon with commercial and international partners.

Key Insights

• ✈️ NASA plans to send a helicopter to Mars, which will conduct test flights in the planet's thin atmosphere, pushing the boundaries of future missions.
• 🫥 The agency is actively exploring the Moon with the participation of commercial and international partners, in line with President Trump's Space Policy Directive 1.
• 🇲🇭 NASA promotes the role of technology in enabling exploration, demonstrated through events like the Humans to Mars Summit and Tech Day on the Hill.
• 🛩️ Uber and NASA signed a space act agreement to explore the possibilities of urban air mobility and assess the impact of small aircraft in populated areas.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is NASA's plan to send a helicopter to Mars?

NASA will include a small Mars copter as part of the Mars 2020 rover mission. The copter will make test flights in Mars' thin atmosphere, potentially paving the way for more ambitious missions in the future.

Q: What was the focus of NASA's activities related to the Moon?

NASA's Administrator encouraged companies to respond to their upcoming call for commercial delivery missions to the Moon. The agency aims to increase science activities on the Moon, ultimately returning humans to its surface.

Q: What role does technology play in enabling exploration, according to NASA?

NASA showcased exhibits at the Humans to Mars Summit and Tech Day on the Hill event, emphasizing the importance of technology in enabling exploration. These events aimed to demonstrate to stakeholders and the media the role of technology in NASA's endeavors.

Q: What is the purpose of the space act agreement signed with Uber?

The space act agreement with Uber aims to explore concepts and technologies related to urban air mobility. Both parties will collaborate on assessing the impacts and safety of small aircraft in crowded environments.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA's Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, announced that the US will send a helicopter to Mars for the Mars 2020 rover mission, potentially allowing for more ambitious missions in the future.

• Bridenstine emphasized the importance of commercial delivery missions to the Moon and increasing science activities there, in line with President Trump's Space Policy Directive 1, which aims to prepare for missions to Mars.

• NASA showcased exhibits at the Humans to Mars Summit and held a Tech Day on the Hill event to highlight the role of technology in enabling exploration.

• A second space act agreement was signed with Uber to explore concepts and technologies related to urban air mobility.