Carlos Malpica

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About

Carlos Malpica is a leading aerospace engineer whose work is redefining the possibilities of planetary exploration through advanced rotorcraft design. His primary research focuses on the conceptualization and development of next-generation aerial vehicles for Mars, building directly on the legacy of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter. Malpica’s major contributions include the conceptual design of the Mars Science Helicopter, a more capable successor to Ingenuity, and the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter (SRH), a critical component of the Mars Sample Return Mission. The SRH is designed to retrieve the first rock and soil samples from the Martian surface, a task that requires unprecedented autonomy and precision. His most influential paper, "Mars Science Helicopter Conceptual Design" (2020), has garnered 66 citations, underscoring its impact on the field. By addressing the limitations of traditional landers and rovers, Malpica’s work enables access to rugged, scientifically rich terrains that were previously unreachable. His achievements are instrumental in advancing aerial mobility as a cornerstone of future planetary science, promising to dramatically expand our ability to explore worlds beyond our own.