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Does anyone know why they chose to send a helicopter and not some kind of plane or glider? I would've thought that a fixed-wing aircraft would have been simple
by Youden 6y ago
Does anyone know why they chose to send a helicopter and not some kind of plane or glider?
I would've thought that a fixed-wing aircraft would have been simpler, lighter, faster and more efficient.
- NikolaeVarius 6y agoHow many runways do you see on Mars
- EarthLaunch 6y agoWhat if a glider separated prior to the initial main landing? I guess that would increase the risks around the landing.
- NikolaeVarius 6y agoI mean the point is to test a re-flyable vehicle. A single use glider would seem to defeat the point
- giantrobot 6y agoAll that does is complicate the already complicated EDL phase by an order of magnitude. Trying to launch a drone from the lander during descent would mean: 1) the drone is able to begin its power up process at the end of the cruise phase while the whole probe is buttoned up for reentry 2) the drone has a big enough battery to power avionics, comms, component heaters, and the motors 3) the drone carries a big enough radio and antenna to at least reliably communicate with one of the orbiters relaying data from it and the main spacecraft 4) there's a at least one orbiter positioned to receive data from the drone and the drone manages to perfectly aim its highly directional high gain antenna at the orbiter after an unknown launch position and orientation 5) everything goes perfectly with the drone and it doesn't collide with or damage the sky crane or rover or debris from its launch (or failure) doesn't damage anything Saying it "increases risks" with the landing is a vast understatement.
- zokier 6y agoUAVs on Earth commonly launch on catapults and not runways.
- BurningFrog 6y agoOK, but landing it back on the catapult seems very hard.
- Robotbeat 6y agoHow would it take-off and land without runways? VTOL flying wing designs have been proposed. But the first step is demonstrating any powered flight at all, which means helicopter.
- JoeAltmaier 6y agoCatapult of course! But then, only one takeoff. Which for some missions, would be enough.
- Kliment 6y agorobot arm on rover throwing it, and then rolling over to pick it up again
- ajuc 6y agoThe helicopter makes up for thin atmosphere by rotating blades faster. Glider or a plane would have to move faster to get the necessary lift. TBH in this environment I would make something that jumps like a flea instead :)