Big, beautiful photos of the giant flying saucer NASA is using to send humans to Mars

The way we think of flying saucers is about to get a pretty serious makeover.

Instead of transporting aliens across the universe (as portrayed in sci-fi films), rocket-powered flying saucers could send the first humans to the surface of Mars.

At least, if everything goes according to NASA's plans.

Right now, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California is testing its low-density supersonic decelerator (LDSD) project, which includes the test model of an actual flying saucer that will carry heavier loads - including astronauts - to Mars in the not-too-distant future.