NASA Tests Featherweight Radar Antenna For SkyFall Mars Helicopters
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is testing a flexible, fabric-like radar antenna for the upcoming SkyFall Mars helicopter mission. The antenna is designed to fold during landings, allowing the helicopters to perform ground-penetrating radar scans on the Martian surface.
Why it matters
Advancements in lightweight, durable hardware are critical for the success of future autonomous exploration missions on Mars.
After the little Mars helicopter Ingenuity blew everyone away with its performance, it was clear that a future Mars mission should involve more helicopters like it, with even more capabilities. The main proposal here is NASA’s SkyFall mission which would involve three autonomous helicopters, capable of searching for resources like water. To this end they would need a ground-penetrating radar system, with the antenna somehow folding away for landings, an idea that JPL is currently testing .
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