1 The Mars Airplane: A Credible Science Platform 1, 2 Robert D. Braun Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332-0150 (404) 385-6171 Henry S. Wright Mark A. Croom Joel S. Levine NASA Langley Research Center David A. Spencer Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, CA 91109 (818) 393-7886 robert.braun@aerospace.gatech.edu Hampton, VA 23681 david.a.spencer@jpl.nasa.gov Abstract— Significant technology advances have enabled planetary aircraft to be considered as viable science platforms. Such systems fill a unique planetary science measurement gap, that of regional-scale, near-surface observation, while providing a fresh perspective for potential discovery. Recent efforts have produced mature mission and flight system concepts, ready for flight project implementation. This paper summarizes the development of a Mars airplane mission architecture that balances science, implementation risk and cost. Airplane mission performance, flight system design and technology readiness are described. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. MISSION ARCHITECTURE 1 3. DRIVING REQUIREMENTS 3 4. MISSION SYSTEM 3 5. FLIGHT SYSTEM 6 6. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE 8 7. TECHNOLOGY MATURATION 10 8. CONCLUDING REMARKS 12 REFERENCES 12 1. INTRODUCTION One hundred years ago, the Wright brothers successfully completed the first powered airplane flight above the sand dunes of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. A century later, technology advances in unmanned aerial vehicles and space flight systems have enabled a viable mission concept for the first flight of a powered airplane above the unexplored landscape of another planet. From its unique vantage point, a few kilometers above the Mars surface, an autonomous airplane can return unique science measurements over regional-scale distances for immediate scientific review and public dissemination. Such a flight would: (1) return fundamental scientific knowledge about the planet’s atmosphere, surface, and interior, (2) inspire the next generation of explorers, and (3) demonstrate the synergies possible through integration of our nation’s aeronautics and space enterprises. Planetary airplanes with potential application to Mars, Venus or Titan have been studied for numerous years [1-5] as a means to bridge the scale and resolution measurement gaps between orbiters (global-scale, limited spatial resolution) and landers (local-scale, high spatial resolution). By traversing regional-scale distances at near-surface altitude, planetary airplane observations complement and extend orbital and landed measurements while providing a fresh perspective for scientific discovery. Planetary aircraft can also survey scientifically interesting terrain that is inaccessible or hazardous to landed missions. While unpowered concepts [6-7] have been studied, powered airplanes offer a means to perform a controlled, near-surface scientific survey spanning hundreds of kilometers. Two recent, large efforts have significantly advanced Mars airplane technology readiness. The Mars Micromission Airplane [8-9] efforts of 1998-1999 brought out many of the design challenges associated with powered airplane flight on another planet. Challenges identified included the importance of airplane size as a means to reduce implementation risk and the need to mature the critical technologies of airplane wing/tail deployment and latching. With these lessons learned, the Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey (ARES) Mars Scout airplane [10-11] efforts of 2001-2003 demonstrated a compelling science rationale and a mature mission and flight system concept. This paper summarizes the development of a Mars airplane mission architecture that balances science, implementation risk and cost. The airplane mission performance and flight system design is described. Recent design, analysis and test experience has demonstrated the maturity of this science platform for use in a Mars flight project. 2. MISSION ARCHITECTURE ARES science objectives required completion of a 500-km pre-planned science survey from a vantage point 1-2 km above the surface terrain [10]. During this traverse, unique measurements of the Mars atmosphere, surface and the interior would be obtained using magnetometers, a mass spectrometer, a point spectrometer, and imaging cameras. These measurement objectives impose additional mission architecture constraints on local solar time and arrival season. In addition, traverse latitude and longitude requirements are science derived. __________________________________ 1 0-7803-8155-6/04/$17.00© 2004 IEEE 2 IEEEAC paper #1260, Final, Updated December 1, 2003