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Mars Plane
Takes Flight |
Dr. Jamey Jacob, associate professor of
mechanical and aerospace engineering at
Oklahoma State Universtiy and 15 students
are working on cutting-edge technology that
might lead to flights on Mars.
Jacob and his students are developing a
plane with stowable, inflatable wings that
could withstand the thin atmosphere of the
Red Planet. The Oklahoma
State University students are working on the
project jointly with student teams from the
University of Kentucky, simulating the
distance collaboration aspect of the
aerospace engineering industry.
The wings have no internal parts, ribs or
structures of any kind. They are made of
polyurethane-coated rip stop nylon; material
used to make space suits. March 17, Jacob
and his team took the plane east of Fort
Collins, Colo. for a high-altitude flight
test. The test flight was intended to test
the aircraft’s structure, autopilot and
emergency systems.
Jacob said the March 17 flight was a
“success.” A follow up test flight is
scheduled for the fall, which will test the
plane under Martian conditions.
The Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium, under
the direction of Dr. Andy Arena, is
providing some funding for the project. To
learn more about Jacob and his Mars Plane,
visit
http://marsairplane.okstate.edu.
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