For decades, NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have relied on some of the driest, most rugged places on Earth to simulate the extreme environments on Mars. California's Mojave Desert, including Death Valley National Park, have long served as proving grounds, from the Viking Lander in the 1970s to the landing trials for NASA's Perseverance rover.
Rotorcraft, like helicopters and drones, have become increasingly important since the success of NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which made 72 pioneering flights on the Red Planet before completing its mission in 2024. Craft like Ingenuity can be helpful in exploring hard-to-reach areas, including areas on another planet.
