NASA funds Firefly aeroshell for SkyFall Mars helicopter mission

NASA awarded Firefly Aerospace a $13 million subcontract to design and manufacture the aeroshell that will shield the SkyFall spacecraft’s descent during its Mars entry and exit, part of NASA’s plan to launch SkyFall in 2028 with three Ingenuity-like helicopters that will be released mid-descent to scout for water ice and potential crewed-landing sites, leveraging Firefly’s Gloworks facility and Blue Ghost heritage while NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory oversees the mission.