Ornithopters on Mars

cloudwilliam writes "This article at Science News is reporting on how researchers at the Ohio Aerospace Institute and Georgia Institute of Technology are designing flying drones for future Mars missions that flap their wings like insects (drones...insects...get it? Right, sorry, that was bad). Apparently fixed and conventional rotary wing aircraft are impractical due to the thin air of Mars, but the light gravity makes large bug-like aircraft possible. They're calling them entomopters--from entomoi, junior high Greek for bugs with wings. Check it out." We've done lots of previous stories on aircraft for Mars exploration - until someone actually sends a mission with equipment on board, it's all speculation as to what designs might conceivably be used.

Comments

Re:Why not simulate?

[Cmdr Taco (luser)]

According to this Earth's average atmospheric pressure is about 1013 mBar, whereas on Mars it's about 8 mBar. Mars' atmosphere is 95% CO2. From there, you may work out the potential for aerodynamic lift, but I'll say, it's quite small. More static methods of lift, such as hydrogen balloons, might be of greater potential, especially when you consider that flammability is less of an issue with air that's 95% CO2.

I honestly don't think that low speed aerodynamic flight is achievable on Mars, but I agree that we have enough data that there shouldn't be much left to guess.

Been there, done that

[jaydho]

"until someone actually sends a mission with equipment on board, it's all speculation as to what designs might conceivably be used."

Been there, done that. You can too.