ARES Mars Aircraft

Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey of Mars (ARES)

Critical science goals:

Crustal Magnetism:
ARES enables an improved understanding of the detailed nature of crustal magnetism on Mars and modeling of Mars' crustal evolution, tectonic history and the chronology of its dynamo.
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Composition, Chemistry and Dynamics:
ARES enables an improved understanding of the near-surface atmospheric composition, chemistry and dynamic behavior, and the chemical coupling between the surface and atmosphere, with unprecedented accuracy and range.
Near-Surface Water:
ARES enables an improved understanding of water equivalent hydrogen abundance and its relationship to inferred near-surface water and hydrated minerals.

From its unique vantage point 1.5 km above the surface of Mars, ARES will target and explore up to 610 km of diverse terrain in the Southern Highlands. Science data will be returned to Earth on the day of flight for immediate scientific review and public dissemination.

ARES Enables a New Class of Science that Complements and Extends the Mars Exploration Program

Simultaneous, in-situ, regional-scale measurement of the Mars atmosphere, surface, and interior
Bridges critical scale and resolution measurement gaps of remote sensing and surface exploration
Scout for future sample return and surface mission site selection.

Magnetic survey with spatial resolution two orders of magnitude higher than provided by Mars Global Surveyor, with ability to resolve the crustal magnetism source structure
High-resolution measurements that cannot be achieved from orbit
Geologic diversity from regional-scale coverage that cannot be achieved by surface missions
In-situ atmospheric science
Ability to traverse terrain inaccessible to surface vehicles
Ability to precisely target science features
Ability to execute a controlled, pre-planned aerial survey pattern
Robust performance with regard to atmospheric uncertainties

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ARES
• Mars
• Aircraft

[hughshikarii]

reporters always exaggerate by saying this means life could still be there, no it clearly doesn't. it isnt impossible, but more likelly, if that methane is from life, that it is methane from deceased organsisms that could have existed there once, if those water clues are conclusive

[chasy2007]

Эту идею полёта аэроплана на марсе я слышал давно. Не думал что может осуществится.

Очень интересно, хорошо, дальше надо так.

On Mars I heard this idea of flight of an airplane for a long time. Did not think that can will be carried out.

Very interestingly, well, it is necessary so further.

[iPhoneman10000]

They should have done this both within a year of sending the rovers because it would have had that much more likely for people to actually go to mars

[MrAndersohn]

So, when it will be sent on Mars? I read that in 2011 but in this year NASA want to sent Curiosity

[SatoTM2]

Waw! no more slow rovers! I love this idea =O

[thesnorklemonkey]

@hughshikarii Look up the Labeled Release experiment carried out by Viking on the Martian surface. There's a solid chance that there is microbial life on the red planet. We just have to look a little harder.

[ElGatoLoco698]

This will never work. Thanks for taking the taxpayers money for a job that will never be completed. If in some miracle it was developed and sent Mars, there is no way in hell they can release an aircraft in the air, unfold it, and fly it. 50% of all probes sent to Mars has malfunctioned or crashed.

[brutsi]

But this ARES will be a one flight thing. It is not able to land on the rocky surface, especially not because it has to fly very fast to get lift in the thin atmosphere.

[Caidland]

Why not use radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) as power source and propeller to fly, on this way Ares could fly for month even years and not only for hours as the actual configuration will allow.

[ScribeOfShadows]

LOL i love the way the video when listing the components of ARES lists the NASA logo..... ermm I think it be able to operate just fine without that logo.

[mrfrankincense]

@hughshikarii cool

[hughshikarii]

@mrfrankincense i know i allowed for that, "if that methane is from life"