• NASA is proposing the Nighthawk mission to explore the Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region on Mars, using a more advanced 'Mars Chopper' drone.
• The mission aims to study the region's geological features, including a giant volcano, lava flows, and glacial remains, to understand Mars' past water activity and potential for life.
• Nighthawk represents a significant advancement over the Ingenuity helicopter, offering greater range, altitude, payload capacity, and independent operation.

NASA is planning the Nighthawk mission to explore Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus on Mars, a region with significant geological features that may hold clues about Mars' past water activity, volcanic history, and potential for life. Led by Pascal Lee of the SETI Institute, Nighthawk will use a Mars Chopper drone to conduct in-depth analyses. This mission builds upon the success of the Ingenuity helicopter, offering advanced capabilities for independent exploration and data collection.

• What: The Nighthawk mission aims to explore the Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region of Mars using an advanced Mars Chopper drone. The focus is on studying geological features, assessing the suitability of Noctis Landing for future human missions, and investigating the remains of Noctis Volcano and associated glacial ice.
• Who: The mission is led by Pascal Lee of the SETI Institute, with support from NASA and JPL-Caltech. The team includes researchers and engineers involved in the design and development of the Mars Chopper drone.
• When: The article was published on May 7, 2025. The Nighthawk mission is planned to operate for 240 sols (Mars days), completing 100 flights.
• Where: The mission will focus on the Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region of Mars, specifically Noctis Landing and Noctis Volcano.

The Nighthawk mission represents a significant step forward in Mars exploration, building upon the success of the Ingenuity helicopter with a more capable and independent platform. The focus on Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus is driven by the region's unique geological features, which could provide valuable insights into Mars' past and potential for life. The mission's scientific payloads are designed to gather comprehensive data on the Martian surface and subsurface, contributing to a deeper understanding of the Red Planet.

Nighthawk is a concept for a NASA Mars Chopper mission to explore Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus’ ancient giant volcano, recent lava flow, canyons, glacier remains, H2O evolution, mineral deposits, potential for life, and suitability for human landing and exploration.

Nighthawk’s science mission would not be achievable with an Ingenuity-class helicopter, but could be accomplished with the larger, more capable NASA Mars Chopper currently under design.

The Mars Chopper’s expected flight range, flight altitude AGL (above ground level), and payload capacity would allow Nighthawk to accomplish its vast range of science.

If the Nighthawk proposal gets accepted, it would provide a deeper understanding of a scientifically rich and diverse region of Mars.

The proposed Nighthawk mission promises to significantly advance our understanding of Mars by exploring the geologically rich Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region. Utilizing a more capable Mars Chopper drone, Nighthawk aims to uncover insights into Mars' volcanic past, water history, and potential for life, paving the way for future human exploration. The mission's success hinges on the acceptance of the proposal and the successful development of the Mars Chopper technology.