Despite the thin, cold, carbon dioxide-based atmosphere of Mars, recent work at NASA Ames has suggested that vertical lift (based on rotary-wing technology) planetary aerial vehicles could potentially be developed to support Mars exploration missions. The use of robotic vertical lift planetary aerial vehicles (VL PAVs) would greatly augment the science return potential of Mars exploration. Many technical challenges exist in the development of vertical lift vehicles for planetary exploration. It only takes the realization that the world altitude record for a helicopter is less than 40,000 feet (versus flight at the equivalent terrestrial altitude of over 100,000 feet required to match Mars' surface atmospheric density) to appreciate the aeronautical challenges in developing these vehicles. Nonetheless, preliminary work undertaken at NASA Ames and others suggest that these vehicles are indeed viable candidates for Mars exploration.
Use of Vertical Lift Planetary Aerial Vehicles for the Exploration of Mars
2000-07-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Use of Vertical Lift Planetary Aerial Vehicles for the Exploration of Mars
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000
|Exploration of Titan Using Vertical Lift Aerial Vehicles
NTRS | 2001
|Exploration of Titan using Vertical Lift Aerial Vehicles
NTIS | 2001
|Exploration of Titan using Vertical Lift Aerial Vehicles
NTRS | 2001
|