Astronomy / Space Nasa to send Helicopter to Mars

[Thargon]

It's not a fake thread!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/scienc...oration-nasa-to-send-helicopter-to-red-planet

 

[Patrick_68000]

Will make great research useful for future crews who will go on Mars

 

[Iskariot]

Naturally I expect them to fly in a helicopter from Earth to Mars, or it doesn't count.

 

[ArchEmperor]

Tesla sent a car into space... So why not a Helicopter to mars... makes sense.

 

[Geraldine]

It had better have this theme tune playing while it does it!

Spoiler

[video=youtube;lTb_5oPqCys]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTb_5oPqCys[/video]

 

[AkenBosch]

Nothing new under the (Martian) sun: (@00:40)

[video=youtube_share;oJGJEepIOt0]https://youtu.be/oJGJEepIOt0[/video]

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

I wonder, why not 4-rotor drone?

By the way, the follow-up video is just priceless.

 

[metatheurgist]

I wonder, why not 4-rotor drone?

More moving parts is more chance of failure.

 

[Jenner]

It had better have this theme tune playing while it does it!

OH yes! This has to happen.

 

[Chris Simon]

Will it even fly, though?
The atmosphere on Mars is REALLY thin. I've seen an experiment where they used vacuum chamber to create a Mars-like atmospheric pressure, put an electric fan in and they weren't even able to create a breeze.

 

[Manticore]

OH yes! This has to happen.

....... in a perfect world.

 

[metatheurgist]

Will it even fly, though?
The atmosphere on Mars is REALLY thin. I've seen an experiment where they used vacuum chamber to create a Mars-like atmospheric pressure, put an electric fan in and they weren't even able to create a breeze.

If you watch the video they are testing it in reduced atmos. I think I heard something like 26K rpm mentioned.