Nasa has developed a small autonomous rotocraft that will show the ability of heavier-than-air vehicles to survive on Mars as the red planet contains thin atmosphere. It will be delivered with the agency’s Mars 2020 rover in July 2020.
The helicopter is equipped with all types of tools that it needs to work at Mars. Other than that it contains solar cells so that its lithium-ion batteries could be charged and a heating system that will help it warm while going through the cold Martian nights.
“The altitude record for a helicopter flying here on Earth is about 40,000 feet. The atmosphere of Mars is only one percent that of Earth, so when our helicopter is on the Martian surface, it’s already at the Earth equivalent of 100,000 feet up,” said Mimi Aung, Mars Helicopter project manager at JPL. “To make it fly at that low atmospheric density, we had to scrutinize everything, make it as light as possible while being as strong and as powerful as it can possibly be.”
The Mars helicopter is considered as a highly risky project because if it fails to give output as NASA’s scientists thought, the importance of Mars 2020 rover mission will be affected. With positive results NASA could develop low-flying scouts and aerial vehicles to reach such locations that are not accessible by ground travel.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/mars-helicopter-to-fly-on-nasa-s-next-red-planet-rover-mission