NASA will send small autonomous helicopter to Mars in 2020
On Friday NASA officials confirmed that they are planning to fly a light and small helicopter to Mars. This initiative is a part of 2020 US space agency mission and this would be the first time that such an aircraft would be placed on Martian surface.
This small helicopter weighing 1.8 kilograms would be remote-controlled. This has twin counter-rotating blades with a fuselage as big as a softball. Blades will spin at 3,000 rpm, 10 times the speed of a helicopter on Earth.
In a statement, NASA said, "The altitude record for a helicopter flying here on Earth is about 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). The atmosphere of Mars is only one percent that of Earth, so when our helicopter is on the Martian surface, it's already at the Earth equivalent of 100,000 feet (30,480 meters) up," NASA officials also added that the rotorcraft will land on Mars attached to a car-sized rover. On reaching the Mars surface the rover will drive to a safer spot.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, "The idea of a helicopter flying the skies of another planet is thrilling." This is intended to demonstrate the viability and usefulness of such aircraft on Mars. This would be a 30-day test period that will include up to five flights. The helicopter will have solar cells to charge its lithium-ion batteries and a heating mechanism to keep it warm during frigid nights.
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First published: 12 May 2018, 11:20 IST