Sara Langberg

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About

Sara Langberg is a pioneering aerospace engineer whose research centers on the conceptual design and mission architecture of extraterrestrial rotorcraft, with a particular focus on Mars exploration. Her most notable contribution is the 2022 paper "Conceptual Design of a Mars Rotorcraft for Future Sample Fetch Missions," which has garnered 11 citations and outlines a novel aerial vehicle designed to support a notional Mars sample return campaign. This work proposes a rotorcraft capable of high-resolution terrain mapping, science imaging, and sample retrieval when operating in tandem with a rover or lander—a concept of operations directly inspired by the success of NASA's Ingenuity helicopter. Langberg's research addresses critical challenges in planetary mobility, including autonomous navigation in thin atmospheres and the integration of aerial platforms into broader sample return architectures. Her contributions are particularly significant for future missions where rotorcraft could serve as agile scouts or sample fetchers, potentially revolutionizing how we explore the Martian surface. By bridging the gap between conceptual design and practical mission planning, Langberg is helping to shape the next generation of planetary exploration tools.