14.08.2025

The European Space Agency has published a call to tender for the development of “flapping wing technology” for a Mars surface explorer.

In the 8 August call, the agency states that on Mars, a flapping-wing propulsion system could offer greater energy efficiency, manoeuvrability, structural robustness, and adaptability than conventional helicopter or fixed-wing alternatives. As a result, the agency is beginning work on the development of a small vehicle powered by a flapping-wing propulsion system that would be used to perform “autonomously in-situ measurements near the Mars surface.”

This initial call will focus on developing flapping-wing propulsion technology and assessing the potential range and payload capacity of a future Mars explorer equipped with it. It outlines a range of possible vehicle sizes, from an “insect-based” lightweight system the size of a bumblebee to hummingbird-sized concepts with a wingspan of up to 30 centimetres.

Work to be done will include a preliminary assessment of the thermal, structural, and aerodynamic design, the development of a breadboard model, and the creation of a roadmap for maturing the core technology. The initial phases of an actual mission will be addressed in subsequent calls and will require funding approval from ESA Member States.

Europe’s first mission to the Martian surface is scheduled for launch in 2028. It will deliver the Rosalind Franklin rover to the Red Planet to search for preserved organic matter beneath the surface of Mars. While this mission will not include a potential future flapping-wing explorer, the agency is planning a second Mars mission in 2035, which may be the perfect opportunity to deploy this novel technology.

Quelle: European Spaceflight LTD