NASA's latest plane is nothing like others that we have seen in the past. It does not take off from the ground on a runway or launch from a shuttle launch pad. The ARES starts its journey folded up into the aeroshell protective case with a diameter of 2.48 meters. The tail and wings are folded underneath the fuselage in the aeroshell. It is then launched into space by a rocket. As the plane is released from the shell, the wings unfold, the two split-tails straighten, and the engine starts.

To the left is a NASA photo of ARES, a Martian    Valley. But now ARES has taken a new meaning at  NASA. Recently NASA introduced their Mars airplane, ARES, the Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey of Mars. To the right shows three views of the ARES.

The ARES has a design mass of only 19 kilograms, which contrasts with the Boeing 747-passenger plane's weight of 396,900 kilograms. The fuel load of the ARES is only 3.2 kilograms, which would provide only 20 minutes of powered flight and a powered range of 200 kilometers. However, the 747 have a maximum fuel capacity of 216,820 liters and can travel for hours while covering 13,480 kilometers. There will be no one aboard the ARES as it travels across the Marian planet after the 12 plus month trip to Mars. While as the 747 flies in our sky it can carry 416 passengers.

This plane looks very different from the planes that we see today. This design will make it light in weight for travel and able to fly over the Martian surface in an atmosphere much different than Earth's atmosphere.

To view short animations of the amazing ARES Mars airplane flying, link to: http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov/multimedia.html

Last September 19, 2002, NASA tested the ARES Eagle, a model of the ARES that was half the actual size. The folded up model was released from a high-altitude research balloon, proving the ARES concept for deployment and flight in Mars-like conditions. The Eagle was taken to a height of approximately 31,550 meters (103,500 feet). At this height, the atmospheric pressure is lower and less dense, more like the Martian atmosphere. Following the balloon release, the airplane tail and wings unfolded and the airplane transitioned from free-fall to horizontal flight, just like it will have to do on Mars. The Eagle was off on its first flight. When it landed, the mission was declared a

full success.

For more information visit: http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov/index.html

The NASA mission of the Ares will be to fly 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles) above the Martian surface. It won't actually land on the surface. During its flight, it will gather data about the geology and the atmosphere of Mars. That information will be relayed back to Earth, where scientists will be able to study it. The ARES will return critical science data across diverse terrain in one of the most scientifically intriguing regions of Mars: the Southern Highlands.

The next steps involve preparing ARES for a full trip to Mars. This trip is planned for about 2007. The important basics have been solved. The Mars airplane can be released from its aeroshell, can unfold its wings and tail sections, and can follow a preplanned route to recover information. Next stop: Mars.

If you would like to try flying a model of the ARES, visit this site for a larger print out of the ARES model: http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov/platform.html