"Exploring Mars: Solar-Powered Plane Searches for Water"

NASA has granted advanced funding for the development of MAGGIE, a solar-powered vertical take-off aircraft designed to fly on Mars within the next 6 years. The compact fixed-wing electric aircraft will utilize solar energy and have vertical take-off/landing capability, aiming to revolutionize exploration of the Martian surface. The project will benefit from data gathered by the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and is part of NASA's NIAC program, which supports innovative concepts for space exploration.