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JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

spectrum.ieee.org

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Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#11

Post by micromacrofoot »

zabzonk wrote: post #7
srcmap wrote: post #3

Wonder if it is practical to design Helicopter with nuclear battery similar to the rover....

Do you see any nuclear-powered aircraft flying around on Earth?

We also don't see any nuclear-powered rovers driving around Earth, so I don't think this is a helpful way to make a point.

Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#12

Post by ezconnect »

zabzonk wrote: post #7
srcmap wrote: post #3

Wonder if it is practical to design Helicopter with nuclear battery similar to the rover....

Do you see any nuclear-powered aircraft flying around on Earth?

No, because it's easy to refuel here on earth and there's no easy way to refuel a helicopter on Mars.

Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#13

Post by zabzonk »

gambiting wrote: post #10
zabzonk wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you see any nuclear-powered aircraft flying around on Earth?

Earth also doesn't have any nuclear powered rovers driving on the surface and yet Mars does. Might have something to do with the fact that the risk to humans on Mars is slightly lower than on Earth,no?

Yes, but also that you can't refill with gas on Mars. And of course we do have nuclear powered vehicles cruising around on Earth. We have also had nuclear powered bombers and cruise missiles, none of which were exactly successful, but not even the US DoD has ever suggested a nuclear powered helicopter. It would be a great introduction to our relationship with Mars if one of the first things we ever did was to spill plutonium across its surface when the helo crashed (as it would, eventually).

Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#15

Post by perihelions »

srcmap wrote: post #3

Wonder if it is practical to design Helicopter with nuclear battery similar to the rover....

That'd be difficult in Mars' atmosphere -- but the planned *Titan* helicopter will actually be RTG powered:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly_(spacecraft)#Design_...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18947350 ("NASA May Decide This Year to Land a Drone on Saturn's Moon Titan")

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20337042 ("A technical look at the Dragonfly Titan mission")

>"Flight on Titan is aerodynamically benign as Titan has low gravity and little wind, and its dense atmosphere allows for efficient rotor propulsion.[35] The radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) power source has been proven in multiple spacecraft, and the extensive use of quad drones on Earth provides a well-understood flight system that is being complemented with algorithms to enable independent actions in real-time.[35]"

Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#16

Post by jvanderbot »

srcmap wrote: post #3

Wonder if it is practical to design Helicopter with nuclear battery similar to the rover....

Obligatory plug for Dragonfly: https://www.nasa.gov/dragonfly/dragonfly-overview/index.html

You _can_ use nuclear power similar to the rover if the lift / weight isn't prohibitive. That means a bigger copter in a thicker atmosphere and lower gravity. Since the power is generated by temperature gradients, cold helps too.

Perfect for Titan.

Re: JPL's Plan for the Next Mars Helicopter

#19

Post by jvanderbot »

dogma1138 wrote: post #14

Wouldn’t an airship be a more viable option for a long term mission on Mars?

The atmo is very thin, making the balloon huge relative to the gondola. Some people are quite enthused about it anyway. Including myself.

http://www.gaerospace.com/space-exploration/planetary-aerobo...

With a thick atmo, plenty of sun, and not too much heat / cold in the upper layers. Venus is a _great_ place for balloons.

https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/venus-20070...

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