NASA Wants to Put Drones to Work on Mars

A prototype built to test Extreme Access Flyer systems in different environments. (Credit: NASA/Swamp Works) NASA plans to fly drones where Federal Aviation Administration rules no longer apply. Engineers at Swamp Works, part of NASA and the U.S. military’s Office of Naval Research, have designed and built a drone that could someday scout Mars, moons or asteroids in our solar system. Called Extreme Access Flyers, these space-worthy drones could help scientists gather data in places your traditional rover just can’t reach.