NASA has released a computer rendering of its next-generation Mars Chopper, designed to enhance aerial exploration on the Red Planet. The concept marks a significant step forward in powered flight capabilities, building upon the successful technology demonstrated by Ingenuity, the first aircraft to fly on another world.
Ingenuity, a small helicopter-cum-drone, was deployed as part of the Perseverance rover mission in 2020 and completed its maiden flight on April 19, 2021. Since then, it has conducted 60 flights, surveying Martian terrain and scouting areas for further study.
However, operating aerial vehicles on Mars poses unique challenges due to the thin atmosphere’s lower density, which requires specially designed blades to generate sufficient lift. Moreover, fine dust on the Martian surface can be lifted into the atmosphere, potentially damaging delicate mechanisms.
The new Mars Chopper is a more substantial design, roughly the size of an SUV, with six rotors and six smaller blades per rotor. This collective approach provides increased lift capacity, while its current payload capacity of 5 kilograms can accommodate scientific instruments like imaging and analysis kits. The design is a collaboration between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the Ames Research Center.
The Mars Chopper will significantly enhance exploration capabilities on Mars and potentially other alien worlds with solid surfaces and atmospheres that support flight. Its development follows Ingenuity’s groundbreaking success, which paved the way for more advanced aerial reconnaissance. This technology will be invaluable for supporting human exploration, particularly in areas inaccessible to rovers.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170222/new-image-revealed-by-nasa-of-their-new-martian-helicopter