Shannah Withrow

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Shannah Withrow is a pioneering aerospace engineer whose work is redefining the possibilities of planetary exploration through advanced rotorcraft design. Her primary research focuses on the conceptual development and engineering of aerial vehicles for extraterrestrial environments, particularly Mars. Withrow’s major contributions include leading the conceptual design of the Mars Science Helicopter, a next-generation rotorcraft that dramatically expands the reach of surface science beyond the limitations of traditional rovers and landers. Her 2020 paper on this topic has garnered 66 citations, underscoring its influence on mission architecture. She also co-authored the foundational design study for an advanced Mars helicopter, which has been cited 23 times, demonstrating how aerial mobility can unlock previously inaccessible high-elevation and steep terrain for scientific investigation. This work directly builds on the success of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, and Withrow’s designs are shaping the future of how we explore the Red Planet—enabling faster, longer-range reconnaissance and fundamentally changing the paradigm of in-situ planetary science.