NASA Explores Using Drones to Study Martian Volcanic Caves for Signs of Life

Mon, 04 May 2026 01:18:00 +0200

Orpheus is a proposed NASA mission that aims to explore volcanic fissures and caves in the Cerberus Fossae region of Mars using advanced drones. Following the success of Ingenuity, the first helicopter to fly on Mars, NASA is investigating the potential of larger drones to access areas that traditional rovers cannot. Cerberus Fossae, located near the Martian equator, features young lava flows, numerous caves, and depressions that may harbor conditions suitable for microbial life due to the combination of underground ice, geothermal heat, and radiation protection. Orpheus would target five aligned depressions and caves near the Cerberus Tholus 1 volcanic cone, which are difficult to explore with standard rovers but ideal for drones. The mission aims to search for bio-signatures, study the origin and evolution of Mars, and gather data on its water history. Named after the mythological Orpheus who tamed Cerberus with music, the mission is currently a concept led by Connor Bunn and Pascal