NASA Tests Future Mars Helicopter Designs on Earth and Red Planet, Getting the 'Best of Both Worlds'

NASA is getting the best of both worlds as it tests future Mars helicopter designs both on Earth and the Red Planet for the first time, marking a historic milestone in aeronautical experimentation.

The cutting-edge rotor, designed for next-generation Mars helicopters, recently underwent rigorous testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, achieving near-supersonic speeds (0.95 Mach).

Concurrently, during experimental flight testing on Mars, the agency's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter reached new altitude and airspeed records.

Earth, Mars Home to Testing Future NASA Helicopter Designs

Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity's project manager and manager for the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopters, expressed the significance of this dual-planet testing venture.

"Our next-generation Mars helicopter testing has literally had the best of both worlds," Tzanetos noted.

He emphasized the advantages of testing on Earth, where instrumentation and hands-on immediacy prevail, and on Mars, where the unique off-world conditions, including a whisper-thin atmosphere and reduced gravity, provide invaluable real-world scenarios.

The Earth-based testing focused on evaluating next-generation carbon fiber rotor blades, distinct from those used on Ingenuity. These long blades, exceeding 10 centimeters, displayed increased strength and a novel design, raising the prospect of larger and more capable Mars helicopters.

The challenge lay in managing vibration-causing turbulence as the blade tips approached near-supersonic speeds. To replicate Martian conditions on Earth, engineers utilized JPL's 25-foot wide, 85-foot-tall space simulator - an environment previously instrumental in testing spacecraft like Surveyor, Voyager, and Cassini, according to NASA.

Over three weeks in September, sensors, meters, and cameras meticulously monitored the rotor blades as they underwent multiple runs at escalating speeds and pitch angles.

Tyler Del Sesto, Sample Recovery Helicopter deputy test conductor at JPL, elaborated on the testing process, saying, "We spun our blades up to 3,500 rpm, which is 750 revolutions per minute faster than the Ingenuity blades have gone. These more efficient blades are now more than a hypothetical exercise. They are ready to fly."

Ingenuity Mars' Contribution

On Mars, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, initially designed for a maximum of five flights, has far exceeded expectations. Over the past two and a half years, it has completed 66 flights, covering new ground and achieving unforeseen milestones.

Recent advancements include doubling maximum airspeed and altitude, increased vertical and horizontal acceleration rates, and adjustments to landing techniques.

Travis Brown, the chief engineer overseeing Ingenuity at JPL, highlighted the valuable insights gained from these flights, providing mission designers with essential data for future Mars helicopter projects. The exploration surpassed traditional flight parameters, featuring experiments with heightened landing speeds.

Ingenuity showcased its capability to land at speeds 25% slower than its initial design, offering valuable information for potential adjustments to create lighter landing gear.

The exploration on Mars is ongoing, with scheduled high-speed flights in December following solar conjunction. These upcoming flights will entail executing specific pitch-and-roll angles to collect vital data, contributing to refining aero-mechanical models detailing Mars rotorcraft behavior.