Re: Fixed wing will NOT work on Mars
Quote:
"Fixed wing aerial Mars rovers would have to fly at over 250 MPH just to stay aloft in the rarefied Mars atmosphere. This makes landing on the rocky surface almost impossible, thereby precluding sample inspection/gathering. Also, the high speed flight means that dwell time on any particular area will be difficult-- a negative feature that is compounded by the fact that turns in the thin atmosphere will require enormous radii."
Read carefully. This paragraph does not say that a fixed-wing aircraft would work on Mars. It says that a fixed-wing aircraft would not work.