Mars Aerial and Ground Global Intelligent Explorer

Mars Aerial and Ground Global Intelligent Explorer or MAGGIE is a proposed compact, autonomous, fixed wing, vertical take-off/landing (VTOL), electric aircraft powered by solar energy.

Range with a fully charged battery would be 179 kilometres (111 mi) at an altitude of 1,000 meters.

The total range per Martian year would be 16,048 kilometres (9,972 mi) – more than twice the circumference of Mars.

MAGGIE has a cruise lift coefficient CL of 3.5, nearly an order of magnitude higher than conventional subsonic aircraft, to overcome the low density of the Martian atmosphere.

[5] In January 2024, MAGGIE was one of thirteen proposals approved for Phase 1 funding by the NIAC.