One thing I'm curious about...we hear about how these tests are done at
high alt. to simulate the thin Martian atmosphere, but I was wondering how,
if it all, they simulate the lower Martian gravity. I think the gravity on
Mars is 1/2 or 1/3 Earths, so presumably, if the test plane were flying
above Mars, its wing loading would be cut by 33 or 50% (boy, I wish I could
just do that with my planes!). Do they just make the test plane 1/3-1/2
lighter then the Mars plane will be, or design it at the spec weight on
Earth and just get the reduced Martian weight as a "bonus."
At 10:35 AM 8/17/01 -0400, Mark Drela wrote:
>
>>Anhedral wing, undercambered airfoil, fat body. I'd be interested
>>in reading about the design philosophy of this plane.
>
>First and foremost, the configuration was laid out (by Bob Parks)
>to be folded up into a compact Mars atmosphere-entry capsule.
>It will most likely be powered by a very large, slow-turning
>diameter prop powered by a monopropellant hydrazine piston engine.
>The test vehicle was just a glider without a power system,
>but with a pile of telemetry equipment.
>
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