rotorcraft

[roh-ter-kraft, -krahft]

noun

1. a rotary-wing aircraft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rotorcraft¹

First recorded in 1950–55; rotor + craft

Example Sentences

She estimates that just one Starship launch to the Red Planet could deploy dozens of ice-mapping rotorcraft, several ice-drilling robotic rovers, at least one water-processing plant, and all the necessary power and communications infrastructure.

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NASA’s famously successful Ingenuity rotorcraft — the 3.5-pound helicopter-like robot collecting samples on Mars — finally came to a crashing end.

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The rotorcraft would launch from Earth in 2028, arrive on Mars in 2030, and then — fortune prevailing — make it home with its Martial samples in tow by 2033.

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The novel rotorcraft lander will conduct several flights on the surface, exploring a variety of locations to search for the building blocks and signs of life.

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Descoping options include removing one of two “Marscopters” planned for MSR, which had been included to build on the wildly successful Ingenuity rotorcraft that is now approaching 50 flights on Mars.

Read more on Scientific American