Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by troymc on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @01:34PM
(#4608595)
You don't have to use a rover. What about a quadcopter or balloon filled with heated gas?
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Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by forgotusername on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @01:39PM
(#4608617)
Good luck.. the highest atmospheric density on Mars is equal to the density found 35 km above the Earth's surface
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by aidenn0 on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:00PM
(#4608743)
I think a latex balloon filled with hydrogen could achieve positive buoyancy. Just bring a little bit of water and you can make your own hydrogen.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by debacle on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:29PM
(#4608917)
I don't know of many latexes that are springy at -100 C.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by aidenn0 on Thursday October 04, 2012 @05:59PM
(#4614627)
Touché. See Camper Bob's response for something that would make more sense.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by CamperBob2 on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @07:11PM
(#4610086)
It wouldn't have to be latex. What's wrong with mylar?
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by mikeash on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @01:56PM
(#4608724)
There is, to a first approximation, no atmosphere on Mars. To a slightly better approximation, there is an atmosphere on Mars, but only enough to cause trouble, not enough to actually be useful for anything.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by wtracy on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @02:26PM
(#4608891)
There's enough atmosphere for Nasa to seriously consider deploying airplanes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_aircraft
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by stephengillie on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @05:24PM
(#4609728)
We've had the discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4261806
A cessna would need wings as large as a 747 and be traveling about mach 1 to take off, iirc.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by skeletonjelly on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @05:55PM
(#4609831)
Thats an awesome metaphor! Going to use this one, thanks.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by DiabloD3 on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @06:18PM
(#4609903)
So it would need wings that have ten? times more surface... that doesn't mean this couldn't be done using small scale drone designs.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by JonnieCache on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @06:13PM
(#4609887)
Mach 1 where?
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by goodcanadian on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @07:52PM
(#4610221)
Mach 1 always means the speed of sound in the local environment.
Re:Are Those Spidery Black Things On Mars Dangerous?
by stephengillie on Wednesday October 03, 2012 @07:50PM
(#4610213)
On Mars. Mach, the speed of sound (vibrations), varies with changes in heat, density, etc.