The Indian Space Research Organisation intends to dispatch a rotocopter to Mars, inspired by NASA’s Ingenuity quadcopter, which recently concluded its groundbreaking three-year mission, encompassing a total of 72 flights.
ISRO’s rotocraft is currently in the conceptual phase. It is anticipated to house multiple instruments, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, wind speed sensors, electric field sensors, trace species detectors, and dust sensors.
As per numerous media accounts, the envisioned drone is projected to soar up to 100 meters in the sparse Martian atmosphere to analyze the atmospheric composition of the Red Planet.
Following the conclusion of its Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission, which reached the end of its operational life in 2022 after nearly a decade orbiting the Red Planet, ISRO is reportedly preparing an ambitious mission. According to media reports, this mission will involve a lander touching down on Mars and deploying both a rover and a drone.
The UAV will be equipped with the Martian Boundary Layer Explorer (Marble), featuring a suite of payloads tailored for aerial exploration of Mars.
The drone will perform vertical profiling of atmospheric parameters and conduct in-situ measurements within the near-surface boundary layers of Mars.
The Marble Mission is anticipated to yield invaluable data for comprehending Martian weather patterns and the planet’s climate history. This information is critical for predicting future conditions and hazards, and will significantly contribute to the planning of upcoming exploration missions.