Long-Endurance Mars Exploration Flying Vehicle: A Project Brief

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

I enjoyed reading this manuscript, which reads like a scientific fiction to me. I wish this design can be fulfilled someday in some Mars explorations.

This work is definitely necessary, it is the first time for me to review (actually read) a scientific paper submitted to peer-reviewer journal. Normally, such mission concept is simply reported in industry report.

From the perspective of planetary scientist, I think the demonstration of this manuscript should be improved. The mission parameters (e.g., information of UAV design, trajectory design, scientific payloads and observation modes) should be demonstrated according to the specific scientific and engineering targets established. In the current manuscript, such information is mostly not given.

While this reviewer believed that rigorous demonstration must be given to support a mission concept, I believe the authors must have already done this. For the consideration of the authors and the editor, if such calculations and mission designs are not classified, I would encourage the authors to extensively elaborate the conceptual design to make it more robust and grounded.

Best wishes.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript! Please find the detailed responses in the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

The topic of the paper is of high interest, and thought was given to the mission profiles as well as various technical disciplines of the launch vehicle, lander, and aircraft system. However, the major issue of this work is that there is no real scientific analysis or depth to the study. For example in the aerodynamics section; there is no analytical or computational analysis, only plausible aerodynamic results such as design lift coefficient and cruise angle of attack. It is recommended that the authors present a basic first-order analytical analysis or low-fidelity CFD simulations for a representative exploration aircraft, either fixed-wing or vertical takeoff and landing. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English quality is good. 

Author Response

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript! Please find the detailed response in the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have considered my earlier comments. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Writing is basically good in this manuscript, minor improvement can be done.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Please find our reply in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

You have addressed my previous comments and am satisfied with the revision. Given the type of fixed-wing exploration aircraft that you suggest in your article, I would recommend adding the following publication to enhance your references:

Ayele, W., and Maldonado, V., “Conceptual Design of a Robotic Ground-Aerial Vehicle with an Aeroelastic Wing Model for Mars Planetary Exploration,” Aerospace, vol. 10, (2023), 404.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Please find our reply in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf