NASA revealed a model of a solar-powered plane on Mars

The MAGGIE aircraft can fly 179km at an altitude of 1,000m, helping to study the atmosphere and geophysics on Mars .

After the success of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, experts are aiming for a more groundbreaking design with the concept of a fixed-wing solar aircraft, Interesting Engineering reported on January 5. The aircraft, called the Mars Intelligent Ground and Air Explorer (MAGGIE) , was announced under NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.

Simulation of the MAGGIE Mars rover. (Photo: Ge-Cheng Zha).

This is a compact fixed-wing aircraft with extremely high performance, using solar energy to fly in the Martian atmosphere. The aircraft is capable of making planet-wide atmospheric measurements, ushering in a new era of space technology. The aircraft concept was proposed by American aerospace company Coflow Jet. Unique CoFlow Jet (CFJ) technology will allow the aircraft to travel in the red planet's thin atmosphere.

MAGGIE is expected to fly 179 km at an altitude of 1,000 m with a fully charged battery pack in 7.6 Martian days. The aircraft's range is estimated to be up to 16,048 km in a Martian year. According to preliminary plans, the aircraft will conduct at least three extensive atmospheric and geophysical studies during its mission. The data obtained helps improve knowledge about Mars, increasing the possibility of future exploration and research.

MAGGIE's mission includes a far-reaching exploration strategy aimed at unraveling mysteries related to Martian geophysics, atmospheric chemistry, and the planet's past and present life-support potential. . NASA also wants to study the origin and timing of the core that generates the Martian magnetic field, investigate the source of the methane signal in Gale Crater, and map subsurface water ice at mid-latitudes.

MAGGIE will advance the rapidly developing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology . VTOL allows aircraft to fly into the air and land vertically on the ground without the need for a runway. NASA said that successfully demonstrating this technology on Mars could become a pioneering step, paving the way for similar flight missions on other planets in the Solar System. MAGGIE's technology could also help improve VTOL aircraft on Earth.