• Simultaneous, in-situ, regional-scale measurement of the Mars atmosphere, surface, and interior
• Bridges critical scale and resolution measurement gaps of remote sensing and surface exploration
• Scout for future sample return and surface mission site selection


• Magnetic survey with spatial resolution two orders of magnitude higher than provided by Mars Global Surveyor, with ability to resolve the crustal magnetism source structure
• High-resolution measurements that cannot be achieved from orbit
• Geologic diversity from regional-scale coverage that cannot be achieved by surface missions
• In-situ atmospheric science
• Ability to traverse terrain inaccessible to surface vehicles
• Ability to precisely target science features
• Ability to execute a controlled, pre-planned aerial survey pattern
• Robust performance with regard to atmospheric uncertainties

ARES will travel to Mars compactly folded into a protective aeroshell. The following images depict the sequence of events that will allow it to emerge safely and reliably from its aeroshell and begin flying over Mars.

Atmospheric Entry, Paracute Deployment, and Heatshield Release


Heatshield Release, Aircraft Ejection, and Aircraft Release


Tail Unfolding Begins, Tail Unfolding Complete, and Wings Unfolding


Aircraft Pull-up, Mars Exploration Begins...

In order to meet its science objectives, ARES must balance aeroshell packaging efficiency, instrument packaging efficiency, mechanical reliability, and aircraft performance while maintaining overall system robustness to uncertainties in the Mars environment.

A considerable amount of engineering design, analysis, and testing has produced a system design that can reliably deliver an aircraft safely to Mars flight conditions. You can find out more about our on-going efforts to reduce mission risk in our Reliability Section.

The large size of the ARES airplane allows:

• Traditional design, test and manufacturing
• Credible aerodynamic and stability predictions
• Flight-proven systems with large margins
• Robust stability and control performance to accommodate uncertainties in the Mars environment

The ARES full-scale and half-scale flight test vehicles.

Click one of the pictures on the left to download a file that you can print, cut out, and fold to make your own scale model of the ARES Mars Airplane! The PDF version can be opened with the Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free by clicking this link.