Autonomous Paragliders for Martian Landings

Outpost is proposing Phase I research and development including design and manufacturing of a scaled paraglider system to be used in future flight test activities for verification and validation of system performance and scalability. This development effort would focus on the design of a passively stable paraglider system capable of deployment in a low density and pressure environment similar to that of the Martian atmosphere. Successful inflation and stable flight are prerequisites for precision guidance of the paraglider system. The largest risks of deploying a paraglider system at higher altitudes, and therefore lower pressures and densities, are the potential for aggressive surge leading to stall or failure to inflate and insufficient ram pressure for tip inflation.