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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?
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.