Explore Mars is not easy. On the surface of the planet at various times worked for several macromodel and landing modules, and on top of the red planet was observed by the orbiters. For example, downstairs now “Curiosity” (“opportunity to communicate and did not work), and on top of watching him probe Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The problem is that even though the spacecraft and is able to take pictures of the planet’s surface in high resolution, satellite imagery is not enough detail. Explore Mars with Rovers, too, not very comfortable – move slowly. Realizing these shortcomings, researchers from the University of Arizona (USA) came up with a new concept which, according to them, would save a lot of money in further attempts to explore the red planet using robotic devices.
Scientists propose to use an inflatable airframe that will weigh just 5 kilograms and have a wingspan of 5.7 meters. Under the proposed concept, the glider can fly over the Martian landscape and to make a detailed review from the height of bird flight. According to the developers, such a device for one Martian day (Sol) can cover distances from 10 to 100 kilometers that is not capable of not one Rover.
“The proposed concept of an inflatable glider provides a brand new way to accelerate studies of the surface of Mars for a fraction of the cost that would be required to implement the earlier concepts of aircraft for exploration of the red planet”, — the document says.
Thoughtful design, available as a Preprint to arXiv database, go to the Red planet in cubite. Then a small spaceship entering the atmosphere, keep it on the surface of Mars, where the telescopic boom is to hold the glider while the folded design of its wings will unfold to injection of nitrogen in special compartments.
The developers propose to cover the main part of the wing structure special sensitive to ultraviolet radiation material, which will harden when exposed to sunlight. The process of solidification will take about an hour, after which the design planet will be hard enough so that he could continue solo.
As the propulsion system of the planet is proposed to use a system based on cold gas. It will allow the device to rise to a height of 1.8 kilometers above the planet’s surface and from there to carry out the necessary research activities.
The objective of such a drone will be held in aid on the surface of the red planet Rovers, and in self-search of potentially suitable sites for the base of the Martian colonies.
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