NASA JPL validates next-gen Mars helicopter rotor blades beyond Mach 1 in simulated Martian conditions
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory test campaign spun experimental Mars helicopter rotor blades past Mach 1, with engineering checks indicating the blades will not disintegrate at supersonic rotational speeds. The effort—run under simulated Martian conditions—targets future rotorcraft that can carry heavier instruments and fly farther.