Mapping mars

Enabling colonization on Mars

The X-5 Drone is an experimental concept for an autonomous aerial platform designed to complement the first human crews on the Martian surface. The main objective of X5 is to demonstrate the reliability and the capabilities of an autonomous solar aerial drone platform for surface surveys on Mars, by performing test demonstrations in analog sites on Earth.

Ingenuity Lesson learned

Thanks to its VTOL and automatic flying capabilities, the vehicle can autonomously achieve the mission objectives, performing take-off, hovering and landing maneuvers without the need for direct control from the crew. In one of its versions, the X5 can be powered by lightweight double-junction solar arrays, that can potentially assure a dawn-sunset flight autonomy.

On the left: Exploded view of the x5. Is it possible to observe the different options for wings and payload noscones.