Multiple Mars Scout UAV Proposals Likely for 2011

[alexblackwell]

Multiple Mars UAV Proposals Likely In Next Scout Competition<br />By Jefferson Morris<br />Aerospace Daily & Defense Report <br />11/17/2004 08:42:18 AM

 

[mah_fl]

If the NRL are designing and building it, it will work <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[crix]

I agree. At first the idea seems cool but flying all the way to Mars to only get an hour of flight? Why not send a ballon based craft that could float around for a month+ ?

 

[alexblackwell]

<i>At first the idea seems cool but flying all the way to Mars to only get an hour of flight? Why not send a ballon based craft that could float around for a month+ ?</i><br /><br />This is a common question. While a Mars balloon could produce some good science, there are advantages with going with an airplane.<br /><br />First, any Mars UAV has the capability for a larger science payload than any balloon. In fact, most Mars balloon concepts I've seen are extremely constrained by mass. Secondly, a Mars UAV would be <i>targetable</i>, or at least would have a more predicatable ground track, much more so than a balloon, which is at the mercy of the prevailing air currents.<br /><br />Its presumed longer lifetime notwithstanding, a Mars balloon is not as attractive as a UAV to most scientists I know, most of whom have specific targets on the Martian surface in mind (<i>e.g</i>., Valles Marineris).

 

[chew_on_this]

Wouldn't a helicopter style "rover" be more versatile? You could hover or land near interesting areas or even land and recharge/refuel, say, at a base with a charger/fuel station.

 

[mikejz]

Intresting idea, however this 'black-box' that will slowly stream that data back to earth seems like a bad idea--too much weight and risk. I would rather see the UAV rely the data at high speed to either an orbiter or lander. <br /><br />A balloon is a allright idea, but I think they would work at lot better on Venus.

 

[mikejz]

Looking at pictures of Oppy's Meridiani Planum to be honest, it sure looks like a place where you might be able to land normally on skids. Of course I'm not sure of what sort of landing speed we are talking about. <br /><br />Why not a two part mission, with a balloon and a airplane. A high speed data link would get all the data from the plane to the balloon for streaming it back.

 

[mikejz]

No I mean if an Mars plane where to perform a traditional roll out landing, what the speeds would be like.

 

[wvbraun]

Great News! Do you know if Zubrin will approach NASA to include the gashopper in the Mars Scout program? And what's the energy source (for the vehicle that would operate on Mars, I mean? Small nuclear reactor?

 

[cuddlyrocket]

The energy source are solar cells on the wings. They drive a compressor to re-stock up with pressurised CO2, and they pre-heat a 'pebble bed' so that when the CO2 passes over it, it expands rapidly, thereby providing thrust.

 

[hurricane4911]

Why can't NSASA take the KISS approach?><br /><br />A winged craft is totally unecessary. A blimp is the perfect solution.

 

[rlb2]

<font color="orange">Why use a winged craft? Why not use a blimp?<font color="white"><br /><br />Check this out at my web site "The Martian Windsurfer".<br /><br />http://arrow-space-innovations.com<br /><br /></font></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>