Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) technology on Earth has become increasingly prevalent and accessible, and for extraterrestrial applications, the Ingenuity helicopter has proven the viability of flight on Mars.
helicopter
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
Skyfall: Future Concept Next-Gen Mars Helicopters for Exploration and Human Landing Preparation
Today, AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, revealed Skyfall—a potential future mission concept for next-generation Mars Helicopters developed with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Nighthawk: Rationale For A Mars Chopper Class Rotorcraft To Explore Noctis Labyrinthus
Summary: Nighthawk is a concept for a NASA Mars Chopper mission to explore Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus. The region presents extreme terrain ideally traversed by rotorcraft. Although Ingenuity would not be […]
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
Understanding Mars Helicopter Ingenuity’s Last Flight On Mars
This review takes a close look the final flight of the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which was the first aircraft to fly on another world.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Launch Services Contract Awarded For Dragonfly Astrobiology Mission
NASA has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for the Dragonfly mission, a rotorcraft lander mission under NASA’s New Frontiers Program, designed to explore Saturn’s moon Titan. The mission will […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Status Report
Profiling Near-Surface Winds On Mars Using Attitude Data From Mars 2020 Ingenuity
We used attitude data from the Mars Ingenuity helicopter with a simple steady-state model to estimate windspeeds and directions at altitudes of 3 meters up to 24 meters, the first […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report
Comparing Rover and Helicopter Planetary Mission Architectures
The Rover–Aerial Vehicle Exploration Network project field-tested planetary mission operations within a Mars analog environment in Iceland using stand-alone rover and helicopter architectures.
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Away Teams & Field Reports, Education and Outreach, Exploration Gear & Tech, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving
Possible Off World AwayTeam Applications: Lab-on-a-drone That Tracks Air Pollution On Earth
Editor’s note: NASA is currently flying the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars as part of the Mars Perseverance rover mission. As of this posting it has flown 67 times and continues […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Titan, Tricorders & Sensors
Dragonfly Astrobiology Mission To Titan Can Proceed With Final Mission Design Work
NASA’s Dragonfly mission has been authorized to proceed with work on final mission design and fabrication – known as Phase C – during fiscal year (FY) 2024. The agency is […]