NASA pushes next-gen Mars helicopter rotors through the sound barrier

Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, have demonstrated that the blades of their next-generation Mars helicopter rotors can punch past the speed of sound and come out intact. In recent tests, a three-bladed rotor reached Mach 1.08 in simulated Martian conditions, boosting lift capacity by 30% without a single blade fracturing.Continue ReadingCategory: Space Systems, EngineeringTags: NASA, JPL, Mars, Helicopters