Crazy Engineering: Mars Helicopter
Why Space Exploration Stack Exchange recommends it
Space Stack Exchange answerers point people to it as direct evidence that a helicopter can fly in Mars-like air, especially the chamber flight tests.
Recommended by 2 people across 2 different months, 2016 to 2017.
What it is
A three-minute NASA JPL video, episode 2 of the Crazy Engineering series, about an early small helicopter concept meant to scout routes for future Mars rovers. It explains why flying in Mars's very thin atmosphere is hard and shows engineering work toward it.
What people said
Recommends Mark Adler · 2016-07 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “Could a helicopter fly on Mars?”
There's nothing like seeing it flying in a Mars-density chamber to answer your question: Crazy Engineering: Mars Helicopter [this video] I have a really nice video of it in controlled flight in the chamber, but I can't find that one on the interwebs yet. Update two years later: Thanks SF for this link to nice video [LINK] .
Recommends Ezra Bailey · 2017-07 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “Could a drone escape Mars' atmosphere?”
Reaching orbit using aerodynamic lift from a rotor like an Earth-based drone is likely impossible. The atmosphere on Mars is very thin compared to Earth (by about a factor of 100!) so lift is much harder to achieve. At best, you'd be able to do short hops, but nowhere near orbital speed. That said, a powerful enough launch vehicle could be equipped on a lander for a sample return mission. However, it would have to use conventional rocket engines to have enough thrust. A sample return is in fact one of the proposed requirements for the NASA Mars 2020 Rover [LINK] and has been discussed for other missions [LINK] . The launch vehicle for sample return would need about 4.1 km/s of delta V to rea
Cites Dragongeek · 2017-11 · Space Exploration Stack Exchange · on “Can we use drones in planetary exploration?”
If you're looking for flying drones, NASA is currently developing a flying scout to accompany a driving rover. This scout would have only a couple of minutes of flight time a day and take a while to recharge. However, let's just say we are designing a similar drone for martian exploration, lets consider some of the advantages and disadvantages we have, specifically on mars. Difficulties: Martian atmosphere is very thin (1% of earth pressure at sea level) Dust kicked up by prop wash certainly isn't good for fast moving parts Active propulsion flying systems (propellers, ducted fans, etc...) require constant power to stay in the air and would have huge power requirements Recharging via the sun