NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna for SkyFall Mars Helicopters

Hackaday reports that engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have successfully tested an ultra‑light, fabric‑like Vivaldi antenna intended for a ground‑penetrating radar on the upcoming SkyFall Mars helicopters. The down‑scaled antenna endured a series of simulated Martian landings and survived the planet’s harsh swing between frigid nights and warm days. SkyFall, penciled in for a twenty twenty‑eight launch from the Space Reactor‑one spacecraft, would carry three autonomous helicopters to hunt for resources such as water, though the overall mission timeline remains uncertain. The test moves the concept a step closer to flight, but the program still hinges on the broader Space Reactor‑one project proceeding as planned.

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