Aerobots in planetary exploration

Robotic balloons (aerobots) may significantly change the future of in situ planetary exploration. On Mars, the aerobots can fill the gap in resolution/coverage between the orbiters and rovers. Powered aerobots (airships) can make controlled global flights for high-resolution radar, visible, infrared, thermal, magnetic, and neutron mapping; they can be used for deployment of network of surface stations. Tethered balloons could provide ultra high-resolution imaging of local areas for navigation of rovers and data relay to the main lander station. Solar-heated balloons could be used as low atmospheric decelerators for low-speed landing. In the more distant future the airships could be used for human transportation. On Venus, aerobots may serve as the scientific platforms for the in situ atmospheric measurement and for study of atmospheric circulation. They can be used to drop imaging and deep sounding probes at sites of interest and to acquire and relay high-rate imaging data. Balloons technology is enabling for any Venus surface sample return mission. On Titan, powered aerobots can perform long duration low-altitude global flight for surface mapping, in situ atmospheric measurements, deployment of landers and rovers for in situ surface studies. Aerobots can also be used for long-duration atmospheric studies of the outer planets. Aerobot technologies have become more mature in recent years due to progress in development of envelope materials, and envelope design driven primarily by stratospheric applications. Technologies for deployment and inflation, navigation, control, communication and power are also developing rapidly in response to planetary applications.