In 2002 Aurora and NASA Langley successfully demonstrated a half-scale version of the airplane in a series of low altitude and high altitude drop tests. The new airplane is to be a full-scale version, designed to demonstrate flight-weight components and actual aerodynamics.

The prototype plane is scheduled to make its first flight later this year with a deployment test in the upper reaches of the Earth's atmosphere.

"This demonstration is another important step on the road to flying the first airplane in another planetary atmosphere," said Aurora's President, Dr. John S. Langford. "We are excited to be a part of NASA's team in this historic endeavor."

The ARES team includes NASA Langley Research Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Astronautics, in addition to Aurora. The ARES team is one of four selected for a Phase A study as part of the NASA Office of Space Science Mars Scout program. The first Mars Scout mission is planned for launch in 2007 with an arrival at Mars in 2008.

Aurora Flight Sciences is a leading supplier of unmanned air vehicle designs, components, and flight services for government, industry, and academic clients. Aurora operates facilities in West Virginia, Virginia, and California, specializes in the design and production of high-altitude UAVs, and is a major supplier of composite structures for the Global Hawk and related air vehicles.

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