NASA Building Autonomous Helicopters For Mars

Hoping to expand the range of what Mars rovers can investigate, NASA is considering equipping the intrepid explorers with helicopters.

Mars rovers have done a lot of great work for NASA, but their investigative range is restricted to what can be seen via their onboard cameras.

Hoping to expand the options for what the intrepid explorers can look into, the space agency is considering equipping them with helicopters.

The goal isn’t to make the rovers themselves fly, but to provide them with a scout that can travel quickly and send back information.

Researchers on the ground could go through the data collected, determine which areas of the Red Planet look most intriguing, and send the rover along the proper path.

The detachable helicopter could also be useful in aiding the search for particular areas that offer promising opportunities for in-depth analysis and sample collection.

The plan is to create a flying rover assistant that weighs about 2 pounds and has a propeller span