Re:Perseverance rover uses same PowerPC chipset found in 199...
by wlesieutre on Tuesday March 02, 2021 @11:25AM
(#26316982)
For a rover it's not just lifting it, you have to put it back down once it gets to Mars. That's a 3-stage process with the aeroshell, parachute, and powered descent.
Heavier rover? You'll need more fuel for the skycrane's engines. And that fuel adds weight, so don't forget that you'll need more fuel to lift the extra fuel.
Now your rover and skycrane are bigger and heavier. Do you need a bigger parachute? Does everything still fit in the aeroshell? Is the fuel capacity for orienting and stabilizing the aeroshell still sufficient with the increased mass?
Heavier rover? You'll need more fuel for the skycrane's engines. And that fuel adds weight, so don't forget that you'll need more fuel to lift the extra fuel.
Now your rover and skycrane are bigger and heavier. Do you need a bigger parachute? Does everything still fit in the aeroshell? Is the fuel capacity for orienting and stabilizing the aeroshell still sufficient with the increased mass?