Question: What's the Smallest Possible Entry Vehicle for Mars?

[sanman]

Hi everyone,

I have a question - what's the smallest unmanned entry vehicle possible for descent from Martian orbit to the surface using an aeroshield and parachute?
What kind of mass and dimensions would be feasible for a minimal payload?
Do you think 10cm wide is too small? How about 5cm wide?
5 kg? 2 kg?
How small is too small?

What's the smallest you can go, before weird problems of slipstream turbulence and cross-winds cause too much difficulty in targeting a landing zone?
The landing zone I was thinking of was a fairly large one - the Hellas Basin - and so I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to hit from a polar orbit.

The payload merely has to be able to measure ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure and water humidity on the surface in Hellas Basin.

Any useful feedback is appreciated.

 

[Achy47]

Hi there,

As a scientist who has studied Mars and its atmosphere, I can provide some insight into your question. The smallest unmanned entry vehicle possible for descent from Martian orbit to the surface using an aeroshield and parachute would depend on a few factors such as the atmospheric conditions and the desired landing accuracy. However, based on previous missions to Mars, the smallest entry vehicle that has successfully landed on the surface was the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which had a diameter of 3 meters and a mass of 1,025 kilograms.

In order to achieve a minimal payload, the entry vehicle would need to be lightweight and compact. A 10cm wide entry vehicle could potentially work, but it would be challenging to fit all the necessary instruments and equipment into such a small space. A 5cm wide entry vehicle would be even more difficult, as it would severely limit the amount of payload that could be carried. In terms of mass, 5 kg would also be very challenging to work with, as it would limit the amount of equipment and instruments that could be included in the payload.

To answer your question about slipstream turbulence and cross-winds, it is important to note that these factors can greatly impact the accuracy of a landing. The smaller the entry vehicle, the more susceptible it would be to these conditions. In order to accurately target a landing zone, a larger entry vehicle would be more feasible and would provide a better chance of a successful landing.

In terms of the Hellas Basin as a landing zone, it is a large area and would provide some room for error in targeting. However, the accuracy of the landing would still be crucial for the success of the mission. The payload you described - measuring ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and water humidity - could potentially be achieved with a smaller entry vehicle, but it would still need to be large enough to carry the necessary instruments and equipment.

In conclusion, the smallest unmanned entry vehicle for descent from Martian orbit would have to be carefully designed and would depend on various factors. While a smaller entry vehicle may be possible, a larger one would provide a better chance of a successful landing and would be more feasible for carrying the necessary payload. I hope this information helps and I wish you the best of luck with your project.