Research/ PLANETARY ROBOTICS
Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter: Rotorcraft to Retrieve the First Samples from the Martian Surface
Shannah Withrow-Maser, Wayne Johnson, Theodore Tzanetos, Havard Grip, Witold Koning, Natasha Schatzman, Larry Young, Athena Chan, Allen Ruan, Haley Cummings, Brian Allan, Carlos Malpica, Larry Meyn, Benjamin Pipenberg, Matthew Keennon
Surface Mobility & TerramechanicsNTRS keyword: Rotorcraft · Manipulation & Graspingtext match
Ingenuity Mars Helicopternamed in abstract, keywords · Mars Sample Returnnamed in abstract, keywords · Perseverance (Mars 2020)named in abstract
NTRSSpacecraft Design, Testing and Performance
The Mars Sample Return Mission (MSR) will carry the next set of Mars helicopters, Sample Recovery Helicopters (SRHs), to the Martian surface. After successfully demonstrating extraterrestrial flight in 2021, Ingenuity has acted as a “scout” for the Perseverance rover while the rover gathers samples of Martian soil. In 2028, the MSR mission will launch a lander and two Ingenuity-sized SRHs to retrieve these samples. These will be the first samples of the Martian surface delivered to Earth. The SRH project will maintain heritage from Ingenuity’s design when possible. However, several key changes must be made, including a ground mobility system, a robotic arm for tube manipulation, and the ability to carry the weight of a science payload (the sample tubes). In addition, the onboard software and cameras will be upgraded, and the rotor radius will be increased. Furthermore, new rotor performance and flight dynamics models and thorough characterization of vehicle limits will be required. The new vehicle design will be described, as well as validation and verification efforts to date.