An artist's concept published by NASA on Aug. 6, 2026 depicts three SkyFall Mars helicopters gathering data above the Martian surface. Green frequency waves from their large antennas represent subsurface radar collection, while red beams represent near-infrared imaging of regolith and other surface features. Each helicopter is described as carrying four instruments.

The SkyFall helicopters are planned to follow NASA's Ingenuity, a technology demonstrator that flew 72 times over nearly three years and showed that powered, controlled flight is possible in the rarefied Martian atmosphere. It also demonstrated that an aerial perspective can help the Perseverance rover team plan routes and choose science locations.

SkyFall is expected to launch aboard NASA's Space Reactor-1 Freedom in late 2028, with the three helicopters planned to reach Mars in December 2028. The project is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed by Caltech for NASA. AeroVironment of Arlington, Virginia, which worked with JPL on Ingenuity, will co-design and co-manufacture the SkyFall helicopters.