Artist's concept of the Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) is shown here flying through the thick clouds surrounding Ven...
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| Artist's concept of the Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) is shown here flying through the thick clouds surrounding Venus. Northrop Graphics |
Northrop's Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) concept is a long-lived, maneuverable, semi-buoyant platform that would coast through Venus's clouds gathering atmospheric data.
A delta-wing shaped air vehicle with a 55 meter wing span, VAMP inherits the Northrop flying wing DNA and bears a strong resemblance to the Northrop Grumman designed B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and X-47B Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle.
VAMP is the first application for the Lifting Entry/Atmospheric Flight (LEAF) family of vehicles that could serve as atmospheric "rovers," going to any solar system body with an atmosphere, including Venus, Earth, Mars and the moon Titan.
VAMP is a large and light, inflatable/deployable vehicle that would cruise through Venus's clouds at altitudes ranging from 52 kilometers to 68 kilometers ( 32 to 42 miles ), using solar-powered propellers to maneuver on Venus and while gathering science data.
It is being designed to be inflated and deployed on orbit and "float" like a leaf into Venus's atmosphere, where it could operate for more than year.
The concept combines Northrop Grumman's air and autonomous air vehicles, space, large deployable and re-entry systems expertise into a delta wing design.
Venus, the second planet from the sun, is often referred to as Earth's twin because of its similarity in size and mass. Although the surface of Venus is hot and hostile, its atmosphere at 50 kilometers is Earth-like and its clouds hold the key to the difference. Understanding Venus' evolutionary path may shed light on Earth's evolution and the origin of life.
Northrop has formed a scientific advisory board to guide the VAMP development, composed of prominent American and European planetary scientists, who have been drawn from various research and academic institutions.
Gases like hydrogen, neon, helium etc are used as lifting gases in lighter than air vehicles which include balloons, airships, to make the whole craft on average lighter than air. Heavier than air aircraft include conventional airplanes and helicopters.
