NASA’s SkyFall Mars Helicopters Will Wear Tiny “Capes”
Simran Mishra
NASA’s upcoming SkyFall mission will send three tiny helicopters to Mars, each carrying a flexible radar antenna that looks like a miniature cape.
The strange-looking “cape” is actually a Vivaldi radar antenna designed to scan beneath the Martian surface for ice and geological structures.
The flexible design is important because each helicopter sits only about 6 inches above the ground after landing, leaving little room for a rigid antenna.
The radar cape can bend around rocks and rough terrain during landing, then spring back into position when the helicopter begins collecting data.
The ground-penetrating radar could probe roughly 1.6 to 10 feet below Mars’ surface, helping scientists map shallow ice and layers of soil.
Each antenna combines polyester and Vectran, a strong flexible material previously used in Mars landing airbags, with flexible fiberglass tape springs.
Despite its size, each radar antenna weighs only about 5 ounces. Tests have also shown that the design can survive repeated simulated Mars landings.
SkyFall is planned for launch in 2028. Three helicopters will be released during Mars entry and will build on the aerial technology demonstrated by NASA’s Ingenuity.
By locating accessible underground ice, SkyFall could help identify future landing sites and resources for astronauts, including water, oxygen and rocket fuel.