NASA's New Helicopter Ready, Going to Mars Mission in 2021

In order to make new expeditions on Mars in the year 2021, NASA has developed a curious type of helicopter. It has been properly adapted to its mission, consisting of only 1.8 pounds of carbon fiber, aluminum, copper, silicon and a kind of foam. The so-called "Mars Helicopter" successfully completed its performance tests in January this year, demonstrating that the technology is now ready to fly over the Martian surface.

However, the work is more complex than it seems. Flying a helicopter is not an easy task, especially when it comes to Mars. Firstly, the material must be resistant to temperatures up to -90ºC, not to mention the completely different atmospheric composition and gravity of terrestrial ones.

Reproduction / IFL Science

"The Martian atmosphere is only about 1 percent of Earth's density, " said MiMi Aung, project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. At this location, a 7.6 meter high flight simulator was created to mimic the circumstances that the helicopter will face in its mission. In the machine, a vacuum sucks nitrogen, oxygen and other gases, replacing them with carbon dioxide - the main component of the Martian atmosphere. The gravitational issue, however, is already more complicated.

Reproduction / BBC News

According to Teddy Tzanetos, conductor of the performance tests, it is necessary to remove two thirds of the earth's gravity to simulate Mars Helicopter flights. To this end, the team connected a device to the top of the helicopter capable of placing flight conditions within the gravity parameters of the red planet. Before making the final tests, the team used a prototype that reached 75 minutes in the air.

Playback / Vimeo

The Mars 2020 Rover mission is due to depart Cape Canaveral, Fla., In July 2020, carrying the helicopter - scheduled to arrive on Mars six months later. The purpose of the expedition is to conduct geological assessments to determine habitability levels, look for ancient signs of life, and collect soil and rock samples. A few months after landing, the helicopter will begin its exploration on a new planet.