Students build aircraft to Mars

The journey to the Red Planet became increasingly close as a group of students created the first aircraft to fly to Mars. Currently, the prototype of this aircraft has completed the first flight test phase.

The plane only takes a day to fly to Mars's atmosphere, then return to Earth intact.Prandtl-M (the name of the aircraft) is a small plane that can fly gently and perform acrobatic strikes in the sky, remotely controlled. The prototype made its first flight on August 11 at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

Designed with a 2-foot wingspan and weighs less than 3 pounds, the aircraft can easily glide across the Martian sky, then land surface without causing significant fluctuations.

During its flight, aircraft can collect detailed images of the Martian terrain, then analyze the characteristics carefully. These data will help scientists find potential factors suitable for life here.

Sample of Prandtl-M aircraft.(Photo: NASA).

During the first test flight, Prandtl-M flew about 10 minutes and was at an altitude of 2,000 feet (609 meters). Its range can be up to 20 miles (32km). The Prandtl-M official version will have a wingspan of 25 feet (7.6 meters), weighs 28 pounds (12.7 kg) and fly speed of 18 knots (equivalent to 21 m / min). The main material for making this aircraft is carbon fiber for structural and fiberglass parts.

"The first successful flight reinforced our belief. While we are still planning a perfect design, this test can work" well "to give a feeling. At first I didn't believe it could work, I even had to check its flight time before it started , " said John Bodylski, a mechanical engineering student at Irvine Valley University in California. to speak. John Bodylski started the design last year with a group of friends.

"What we like about the compact prototype and in this student group program is the practicality in research, the practicality of breaking the limits of technology development. You can working in the field of space and space research engineers, such as aerodynamic control, structuring and conducting scientific research projects, " said Dave Berger, program manager. Research group of students said.

"This program is so good that we can design and manufacture products in a short period of time. We try to try things that no one else has done before. It can be successful for the first time. , or the second time, " Dave said. In addition to developing the Prandtl-M prototype , the group of students is also working to install a self-guided system and sensor positioning for the aircraft, Mr. Al Bowers - NASA Armstrong scientist and also Prandtl-M program supervisor, said.

The next step of the project is to continue to develop and integrate the framework with the autonomous system. And they are also looking for ways to solve the problems that can occur when merging these two parts together. The student group believes that Prandtl-M and its system will help people realize the dream of traveling to Mars a day soon.

The first test flight of Prandtl-M.(Photo: NASA).

And NASA is hoping to send an astronaut to Mars in mid-2030. Entrepreneur named Elon Musk - head of Space X project said, he is planning to send a spacecraft the driver arrived at Mars in early 2018. Besides, he also revealed information, the project of a spacecraft with a driver to the red planet will be implemented in 2030.

However, General Manager of European Space Agency, Jan Woerner said that, it will take a long time to dream of flying to Mars of humanity becomes a reality. He declared to everyone that a project to bring manned spacecraft to Mars had to wait at least 15 years to implement.

A spaceship sent to Mars needs rockets and powerful fuel enough to bring it back to Earth safely. There must also be an effective way to protect astronauts from challenges both spiritually and physically, things they have never experienced before. Woerner also added: "A permanent settlement for humans on the Moon, where a 3D printer can be used to turn rocks on the moon into necessary materials for a trip to Mars. Here. will be an important step for humanity to the red planet. "