Posted by tourdemars to Airplane at June 12, 2002 12:00 PM

Scientists and engineers tested a prototype Mars robotic plane part of The Mother Goose mission. The Mother Goose plane is basically an 8 foot remotely operated wing that can do some pretty amazing things like a near zero velocity landing. Someday the plane will be much larger sporting a 65 foot wingspan, inflatable with a fold-up propeller. Then it will become more like a UAV autonomous robot for flying around mars, that can even land, or even drop tiny robots or instruments.