On Friday it became known that NASA still sent a small helicopter to Mars in mission space Agency 2020, in which the surface of the red planet will launch the next-generation Mars Rover. For the first time in history an aircraft of this kind will be used beyond Earth.
Mars Helicopter with remote control, designed for flight in the thin atmosphere of Mars, with two contra blades, weighs about two pounds. Its blades will rotate at a speed of 3000 rpm, which is about 10 times the speed of the earth’s helicopters.
“Record flight altitude of the helicopters on the Ground — about 11 thousand meters. The atmosphere of Mars is 1% of the earth, so when our helicopter is on the surface of Mars, it will be equivalent to flying at an altitude of 30 of 480 meters,” said Mimi Wong, project Manager of the Mars Helicopter from the jet propulsion Laboratory of NASA.
The helicopter will go to Mars with Mars Rover 2020. After you place the helicopter on the surface, the Rover will drive off to a safe distance. The first Autonomous flying Mars Helicopter will be carried out by operators from the Ground when they performed the test and charged the battery. The helicopter is equipped with solar panels to charge its lithium-ion batteries and a heating mechanism that will maintain the heat in cold nights.
Study the surface of Mars with a quick and active helicopter promises to be a real breakthrough. The prospect of such studies was too exciting not to consider. Given their slow movement speed and limited navigation of the Rover, the helicopter will be a great help in exploration and the identification of places of interest.
Solved: NASA will send a helicopter to Mars
Ilya Hel