Scaling Analysis of Propeller-Driven Aircraft for Mars Exploration

The scaling relations between the performance parameters of propeller-driven aircraft flying on Mars and Earth are discussed, including the cruising velocity, power required for cruising flight, and propulsive power generated by propellers. The power ratio criterion for feasible cruising flight of p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aircraft 2013-09, Vol.50 (5), p.1593-1604
Main Authors: Liu, Tianshu, Oyama, Akira, Fujii, Kozo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerospace engineering
Aircraft
Astronomical and space-research instrumentation
Astronomy
Criteria
Cruising flight
Design parameters
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Feasibility
Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations
Guidelines
Lunar, planetary, and deep-space probes
Mars
Mars exploration
Parameter identification
Preliminary designs
Propellers
Space exploration
Spacecraft
Venus
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Description
Summary:The scaling relations between the performance parameters of propeller-driven aircraft flying on Mars and Earth are discussed, including the cruising velocity, power required for cruising flight, and propulsive power generated by propellers. The power ratio criterion for feasible cruising flight of propeller-driven aircraft on Mars is proposed, and the relevant design parameters are identified. This criterion is first used to examine the feasibility of typical and nontypical aircraft for cruising flight on Mars, and then applied as a guideline to the preliminary design of the sample Martian aircraft. In addition, the constraints on the rotational speed of a propeller in cruising flight on Mars are given, which should be considered in the design of propellers. The methods developed in this paper are also applicable to other space exploration aircraft for Venus and Titan.
ISSN:0021-8669
1533-3868
DOI:10.2514/1.C032086