Drone On Mars

NASA’s new drone will be used to find landing sites on Mars for a manned mission.

13:30 03 July 2015

NASA’s strange-looking drone, named "Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Land on Mars" (Prandtl-m), could be the first ever plane to land on Mars. 

 

The drone is designed to look for the most suitable landing sites on the red planet that will be used for a manned mission that could take place in the 20202. 

 

NASA will test the drone at 100,000 feet as a preparation for its Mars trip. It will be launched from a high altitude balloon in conditions that simulate the Martian atmosphere. 

 

"The actual aircraft's wingspan when it is deployed would measure 24 inches and weigh less than a pound," said Al Bowers, a scientist at NASA and Prandtl-m program manager.

 

"With Mars gravity 38 percent of what it is on Earth, that actually allows us up to 2.6 pounds and the vehicle will still weigh only 1 pound on Mars.

 

"It will be made of composite material, either fiberglass or carbon fibre".