14 DAY TRIAL // NASA scientists are nowhere near done exploring Mars. On the contrary, they are forever working on designing and piecing together all sorts of equipment that will allow them to have a better look at this cosmic neighbor of ours.
What's interesting is that, apparently, they are now hard at work trying to built a helicopter especially designed to explore the Martian environment and lend a helping hand to rovers operating on the planet's surface.
As detailed in the video below, shared with us ordinary folks by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory just yesterday, the idea is to use such a rotorcraft to look over rocks and elevated terrains that old-fashioned rovers can't see beyond.
The helicopter would rely on solar power to get around. The trouble is that, since the atmosphere on Mars is less dense than it is on Earth, the rotorcraft's wings would have to spin really fast to keep it airborne.
Then again, one other option is to design and build one of the slimmest helicopters the world has ever seen. Together with its fast-spinning blades, this reduced weight would make it easier for the rotorcraft to fly on Mars.
Presently, NASA's Mars helicopter is in its initial stages of design and testing. Otherwise put, it will probably be a while until we finally get to see it flying around on the Red Planet.
