Articles

Here are some articles that will help you understand important points to consider in the design of an aircraft for Mars. Read and find enlightenment!

Solving Flight Problems on Mars: Learn lots of good stuff here. Lots of problems solve. You had better be pretty clever to figure them out. Wouldn't want to crash an expensive Mars airplane, would you?

Control Surfaces: Learn lots of good stuff here. Lots of surfaces to know about. Better become expert on all of them. Wouldn't want to lose control of that pricey plane, would you?

Stay Centered: OK, maybe you're pretty smart. You know all about airplanes and center of gravity during flight. But how about the importance of center of gravity when your plane is all wadded up in an aeroshell, falling like a supersonic, meteoric dead seagull from space? Didn't read about that in Virtual Skies, did ya?

Angle of Attack: Learn lots of good stuff here. No, this isn't about what direction our troops took as they thundered through Iraq, Afganistan, or wherever they are going to thunder next.

Why Does Air Matter: OK, finally. Here's an easy one at last. If you can't answer this question, you probably gave up breathing air some time ago.

Shaping Up for Flight: So, what shape is that fancy new Mars plane of yours going to sport? Remember, it not only has to be aerodynamically efficient, it's got to look good too. In the words of future NASA administrator Snoop Dogg, "If it don't look fly, congress won't buy!"