06/08/2005 the 2nd mars expedition planning workshop (2005) martian moths: the use of simple,...

06/08/2005 The 2nd Mars Expedition Planning Workshop (2005)

MARTIAN MOTHS: THE USE OF SIMPLE, ROBUST, SINGLE PARAMETER SENSORS TO MAP PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF

THE MARTIAN PLAINS

Alan DrewInternational Space University –[email protected]


Mission Architecture• Launch rocket deploys Mars Moths into the

atmosphere at a given altitude and location • The Mars Moths autorotate to the ground at a

set design velocity • Once on the ground the robots acquire

experimental data while gathering solar energy required for take of and flight.

• When sufficient energy for the next flight has been acquired, the Mars Moths take off and complete their next flight.


Design Requirements (1/2)

• Mars Moths must withstand the deployment launch environment.

• ..must tolerate repeated impacts during landing

• ..must tolerate the aerodynamic loads resulting from flapping motion during flight

• ..must be of low enough mass to permit lifting by flapping wings


Design Requirements (2/2)

• ..must be able to acquire experimental data

• ..must be able to communicate data with Meridiani base outside line of sight (relays)

• ..must be capable of completely autonomous flight, landing, take-off

• ..must be capable of take-off and power generation regardless of landing orientation


Mass 1.5kg

Wingspan 0.9m

Wing Surface Area 0.15m2

Solar Panel Surface Area 0.12m2

Energy Storage Capacity 2000J

Design Altitude 50m

Design Range (per hop) 25m

Maximum Design Range (per day)

500m

Mars Moth Initial Design


Mars Moth Initial Design

Solar Panel

Batteries

AntennaSensors


Mars Moth Mission Characteristics

• Not suitable for measurement of time-varying parameters (1 sample/location)

• Versatility may be added by fitting different types of instrument on the Moths

• Can cover very large areas in short time without constraint of land vehicle motion

• Area approx 5,500m2 per moth per day.• This area scales with number of moths


Conclusions

• Mars Moth may present a cheaper and more reliable source of data

• Data is less diverse than with rovers, however this may be improved by using several instrument types

• Mars Moths have significant advantages over rover technology in terms of mobility


Questions?

06/08/2005 the 2nd mars expedition planning workshop (2005) martian moths: the use of simple,...

Documents