Scientists have gained valuable insights into what lies on Mars' surface thanks to spacecrafts which orbit the planet and rovers that traverse the planet’s surface. However, it's the uncharted planetary boundary layer (PBL), between the rovers and orbiters, with features like volcanoes and canyons, that has piqued the interest of researchers from the University of Arizona's (UA) Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. The researchers’ novel sailplane design could be the key to exploring these unchartered areas on Mars, potentially unveiling more insight into the red planet's past.
In a study, published in Aerospace, the UA researchers outline their motorless sailplane design for Mars exploration, which could last hours or even days at a time gathering data. The lightweight, low-cost, wind-powered sailplane is designed to explore new areas of Mars by taking advantage of how wind patterns shift around geologic formations in the PBL such as canyons and volcanoes.
"You have this really important, critical piece in this planetary boundary layer, like in the first few kilometres above the ground," said Alexandre Kling, a research scientist in NASA's Mars Climate Modeling Centre and author on the paper.
"This is where all the exchanges between the surface and atmosphere happen. And we just don't have very much data about it," explains Kling.
In collaboration with NASA, the UA research team aim to address this data gap by developing a motorless sailplane capable of prolonged flights over the planet's surface, utilising the planetary wind for propulsion. This design significantly surpasses previous solar-powered models, which were constrained to three-minute flights. Equipped with flight, temperature, gas sensors, and cameras, each sailplane weighs just 11 pounds.
Author on the paper, Adrien Bouskela explains how previous technologies performing controlled flight on Mars have been restricted by energy limitations, particularly due to the planet’s thin atmosphere posing flight challenges.
“What we're proposing is just using the energy in situ. It's kind of a leap forward in those methods of extending missions. Because the main question is: How can you fly for free? How can you use the wind that's there, the thermal dynamics that are there, to avoid using solar panels and relying on batteries that need to be recharged?" Bouskela says.
The researchers explain how their sailplane design, which has a wingspan of about 11 feet, will use several different flight methods, including simple static soaring when sufficient updrafts are present. The sailplane design can also use a technique called dynamic soaring, which, like an albatross on a long journey, takes advantage of how horizontal wind speed often increases with altitude – a phenomenon particularly common on Mars.
Using these nimble manoeuvring techniques, the sailplane can continually harvest energy from the atmosphere, flying for hours or even days at a time. Essentially this is flying for free.
The team ultimately hope NASA will fund the mission and allow the sailplanes to ‘catch a ride’ on a large-scale Mars mission already in development.
This lightweight, low-cost, wind-powered sailplane design may be the answer to explore the planetary boundary layer of Mars, unveiling further insights into the red planet.
If you're interested in learning more about this research, you can access the paper published in the Aerospace here: t.ly/9a9c3
MDPI