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NASA NTRS · 20240001510

Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Rotor Geometry

Witold J F Koning·Michelle Dominguez
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Abstract

The NASA Mars Helicopter Ingenuity performed its maiden flight on April 19, 2021, and opened new possibilities for planetary exploration. Ingenuity has ended its mission after experiencing an anomaly during its 72nd flight on January 18, 2024. Due to the low density and low temperature of the surface atmosphere on Mars, significant challenges must be overcome to achieve aerodynamic performance. The low density of the Martian atmosphere and the relatively small-scale rotor result in flows with very low Reynolds number, reducing the lifting force and lifting efficiency, respectively. Until recently, compressible flow at Reynolds numbers around Re = 10,000 was of moderate practical interest but with the success of Ingenuity, the aerodynamic regime is appreciating considerable attention. The purpose of this report is to document the geometry (planform, twist, and airfoils) of the Mars Helicopter rotor, for use in future research on rotor performance in the Mars atmosphere.

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Witold J F Koning, Michelle Dominguez. 2024-02-01. Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Rotor Geometry. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20240001510

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