NASA Is Developing a Mars Helicopter That Could Land Itself From Orbit (newscientist.com)
- Reference: 0175325549
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/24/10/26/0018241/nasa-is-developing-a-mars-helicopter-that-could-land-itself-from-orbit
- Source link: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452967-nasa-is-developing-a-mars-helicopter-that-could-land-itself-from-orbit/
> NASA is working on plans to send another, much larger helicopter to Mars than [2]Ingenuity . The "Chopper" craft [3]would land itself after "screaming into" the planet's atmosphere at speed , before covering several kilometers a day while carrying scientific equipment. It would probably be the most graceful arrival on the red planet of any lander yet.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~MattSparkes
[2] https://science.slashdot.org/story/23/04/15/1953220/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-completes-50th-flight-after-two-years-on-mars
[3] https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452967-nasa-is-developing-a-mars-helicopter-that-could-land-itself-from-orbit/
screaming! (Score:2)
I can identify with the screming into the atmosphere bit, less so with the graceful landing.
Re: screaming! (Score:2)
"Slightly thinner"? "Relativistic speeds?" Is this sarcasm?
Re: screaming! (Score:2)
If you have a good enough clock, a leisurely stroll is relativistic speed.
Re: (Score:2)
"Relativistic." Ha. Better not be. Millibar CO2 might as well be solid steel.
The Roton rides again? (Score:2)
[1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik... [wikipedia.org]
If I were the God-King of the American Mars program (and not just space astronomy), I'd be a little less ambitious for the next mission and maybe start with a bigger helicopter on a conventional lander/rover platform before I go all-in for the helicopter for the reentry.
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Rocket
It's ready to go ... (Score:2)
It's already been designed with build [1]instructions [origamiway.com].
Also, define "land". :-)
[1] https://www.origamiway.com/how-to-make-paper-helicopter/
Maybe be a little more considerate of the locals (Score:2, Funny)
> The "Chopper" craft would land itself after "screaming into" the planet's atmosphere at speed.
And then people wonder why martians never talk to us.
Re: (Score:1)
Martians are rocks. We started war with them when we started hitting them with lasers and drills.