Aerodynamic Telemetry & Flight Envelope
Nominal Aerodynamics
Feasibility Status: Aerodynamically Feasible (Mach 0.71 < 0.80 limit, battery reserves > 22%)
Blade Tip Mach ($M_{tip}$)
0.71
Limit: < 0.80 Mach
Hover Power ($P_{hov}$)
385.4
Watts (W)
Climb Rate ($V_z$)
3.2
m/s max vertical
Forward Speed ($V_x$)
14.5
m/s cruise
Sortie Radius
1150
meters / sortie
SR-1 Lander Depot
Sample Cache
Helicopter Flight Path
Rover Boulder Hazard
Mission Architecture Trade: Aerial Helicopters vs Ground Rover
Catchment Analysis
Aerial Mission Total Cost
$2.23B
Baseline $2.1B SR-1 + Fleet
Sample Catchment Duration
28.5
Earth Days (~2.85 d/tube)
Rover Ground Duration
312.0
Earth Days (~11x slower)
Topographical Traverse Risk
Low (0.02)
Flies Over Dune/Crater Fields
| Architecture Modality | Avg Speed | Max Slope Bypass | Solar Turnaround | 10-Tube Timeline | Program Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Rotorcraft Fleet (Modeled) | 14.5 m/s | 100% (Direct flight path) | 1.5 Sols / recharge | 28.5 Days | $2.23 Billion |
| Conventional Fetch Rover | 0.04 m/s | < 25° slope limit (detours) | Continuous / slow crawl | 312.0 Days | $2.65 Billion ($2.1B + $550M Rover) |
| Sample Transfer Delta | +360x faster flight | Zero terrain entrapment | Night battery heating required | 283.5 Days Saved | $420M Saved vs Rover |