This paper describes the mission design, scientific utilization, and prototypical design of a Mars Airplane. As a scientific platform, the airplane provides an excellent means of obtaining data in a resolution range intermediate to surface vehicles and orbiters. It has great versatility to perform a variety of missions: conduct aerial surveys, land instrument packages, collect samples, and perform atmospheric sounding. The Mars Airplane has many characteristics of a competition glider on earth. Two versions of the plane, a cruiser, and one with soft landing and takeoff capability, have been designed. Maximum range and endurance are 10,000 km and 31.1 hours with a 40-kg payload.
A Mars Airplane . . . Oh really
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Aerospace Sciences Meeting ; 1979 ; New Orleans, LA
1979-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
AIAA | 1979
|NTIS | 1986
|NTRS | 1986
|NTRS | 1979
|Microwave beam powered Mars airplane
NTRS | 1990
|