Caged drones could help first settlers on Mars to explore

The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed a'crash-proof' drone to fly on missions to Mars and beyond. The new drones could one day help Martian settlers explore lava tubes on the planet by mapping out tight spots that humans cannot reach. The drone, surrounded by a protective spherical cage and equipped with thermal cameras, deliberately bumps into its surroundings in order to build a 3D-map. The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed a'crash-proof' drone (pictured) to fly on missions to Mars and beyond. The ESA has been testing equipment, techniques and working methods in caves for space missions for many years.