Patent Grant
8196858
The present invention relates to an aircraft configured for flight in an atmosphere having a low density.
The Mars atmosphere is thin and composed mostly of carbon dioxide. The gravity is lower than the gravity on Earth. More specifically, atmospheric density near the Martian surface is roughly equivalent to an altitude of 100,000 feet on Earth. The low atmospheric density leads to a high cruise velocity, but a low Reynolds number. Since the speed of sound on Mars is lower than on Earth, transonic aerodynamic effects are encountered at a lower flight speed. Low atmospheric density also presents difficulty in generating sufficient thrust. Therefore, with such a thin atmosphere, generating enough lift to support airplane weight is difficult and wing loading must be small.
In addition to the challenge of generating sufficient lift and thrust to fly an airplane through the Martian atmosphere, there are challenges associated with getting the airplane to Mars. These challenges include stowage of the airplane in a non-flight configuration and the extraction of the airplane from the non-flight configuration to an in-flight configuration capable of flight in a thin atmosphere.
An aircraft is configured for flight in an atmosphere having a low density. The aircraft includes a fuselage, a pair of wings, and a rear stabilizer. The pair of wings extends from the fuselage in opposition to one another. The rear stabilizer extends from the fuselage in spaced relationship to the pair of wings. The fuselage, the wings, and the rear stabilizer each present an upper surface opposing a lower surface. The upper and lower surfaces have X, Y, and Z coordinates that are configured for flight in an atmosphere having low density.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments and wherein like elements are numbered alike:
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
The aircraft 10 is configured to move between an unfolded position 20, as shown in
The aircraft 10 is also configured to have a desired mass and mass distribution when in the folded position 22 such that the aircraft 10 is transported stably within the launch vehicle. Likewise, the aircraft 10 is configured such that the mass and mass distribution provides stability in the unfolded position 20, for flight, without any artificial augmentation. A structural arrangement, i.e., internally and externally, is configured such that the aircraft 10 survives loads associated with launch and reentry (Earth and Mars, Earth and Earth, respectively). The aircraft 10 is also configured with a desired propulsion system duration, power, and efficiency to provide required speed and endurance. Additionally, the aircraft 10 is configured to have adequate payload capacity in both volume and mass available, while allowing any required subsystems to exist, e.g., batteries, guidance, control, telemetry, etc.
When the airplane is stowed in the launch vehicle in the folded position 22 within the confined volume, the airplane is configured to be transported via flight, e.g., via a rocket and the like, and released from the confined volume during flight. When the aircraft 10 is released from the confined volume of the launch vehicle during flight, the aircraft 10 is configured such that the wings 14 and the rear stabilizer 16 unfold about the respective folds. Once the aircraft 10 is in the unfolded position 20, the aircraft 10 is configured for controlled flight in low density, such as around Mars. It should be appreciated, however, that the aircraft 10 is not limited to flight around Mars as the aircraft 10 is configured for flight in any planetary atmosphere with a low density.
Referring to
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 240.0, as shown in Table 2 and at 102 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 360.0, as shown in Table 3 and at 104 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 480.0, as shown in Table 4 and at 106 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 600.0, as shown in Table 5 and at 108 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 720.0, as shown in Table 6 and at 110 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 840.0, as shown in Table 7 and at 112 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 960.0, as shown in Table 8 and at 114 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1080.0, as shown in Table 9 and at 116 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1200.0, as shown in Table 10 and at 118 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1320.0, as shown in Table 11 and at 120 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1440.0, as shown in Table 12 and at 122 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1560.0, as shown in Table 13 and at 124 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1680.0, as shown in Table 14 and at 126 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1800.0, as shown in Table 15 and at 128 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 1920.0, as shown in Table 16 and at 130 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2040.0, as shown in Table 17 and at 132 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2160.0, as shown in Table 18 and at 134 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2280.0, as shown in Table 19 and at 136 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2400.0, as shown in Table 20 and at 138 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2520.0, as shown in Table 21 and at 140 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2640.0, as shown in Table 22 and at 142 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2760.0, as shown in Table 23 and at 144 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 2880.0, as shown in Table 24 and at 146 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 3000.0, as shown in Table 25 and at 148 in
The upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 are defined at Y and Z positions corresponding substantially to the X position of 3120.0, as shown in Table 26 and at 150 in
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
This invention was made by employees of the United States Government any may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
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