NASA Tests the Rotor Blades of the Latest Generation of Mars Helicopters

NASA is testing the next generation of Mars helicopters (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA – The United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing the next unmanned helicopter to operate on Planet Mars, replacing the Ingenuity helicopter.

Currently, NASA is testing the carbon fiber rotor blades of the latest generation helicopter. NASA revealed that the rotor blades on the helicopter are 4 inches longer than Ingenuity's.

With an improved shape and system, NASA claims that this new rotor is faster than Ingenuity's rotor. The rotation speed produced by this rotor also almost reaches supersonic speed at 0.95 Mach.

"The testing of the next generation Mars helicopter really brought out the best," said Ingenuity Project Manager and the Mars Sample Return Helicopter, Teddy Tzanetos, quoted by VOI from a NASA release.

This new helicopter was tested at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). For three weeks last September, the helicopter's development team monitored sensors, meters and cameras while its rotor blades moved at high speed.

This blade rotates at a speed of 3,500 rotations per minute (rpm), 750 revolutions faster than the Ingenuity blade. So far, Ingenuity is only able to rotate at a speed of 2,400 to 2,900 rpm on Mars.

From the test results in a simulator room measuring 8 meters by 26 meters, it is claimed that the helicopter blades are ready to be flown according to a statement by the Deputy Sample Recovery Helicopter Test Conductor, Tyler Del Sesto.

This latest generation helicopter will probably be used in the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, a collaborative program between NASA and ESA. MSR is planned to be implemented in the 2030s.

During the mission, helicopters flown to Mars will be used to collect samples. After that, the samples will be taken and stored safely until they arrive safely on Earth.