NASA Tests Drones in Death Valley to Prepare for Future Mars Rotorcraft

Desert flight tests help address navigation challenges revealed by the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

NASA is using Earth’s harshest desert environments to prepare the next generation of aerial explorers for Mars. Earlier this year, researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) conducted drone flight tests in Death Valley National Park and California’s Mojave Desert to refine navigation software intended for future rotorcraft missions on the Red Planet.

According to a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory article, the campaign focused on developing Extended Robust Aerial Autonomy, a software system designed to help drones navigate over barren, low-contrast terrain. These conditions closely resemble the sand dunes and featureless landscapes that challenged NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during its later flights on Mars.

Ingenuity, which completed its 72nd and final flight in early 2024, relied on visual navigation systems optimized for textured surfaces. As the helicopter moved over smoother terrain, its ability to track motion became more difficult, contributing to navigation errors.

Testing autonomy in extreme environments

To address these challenges, the JPL team deployed three research drones to Mars Hill and the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes in Death Valley. The locations were selected for their stark, Mars-like features, including loose sand, minimal surface contrast, and uneven terrain.

The tests were conducted in late April and early September, with temperatures reaching up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Operating under a rare research flight authorization, the team monitored drone performance from laptops set up beneath temporary canopies.

The campaign produced early insights into how camera filters, lighting conditions, and new algorithms affect a drone’s ability to track ground movement and land safely in cluttered environments. These findings are expected to inform the design of future Mars rotorcraft that can operate with greater autonomy and resilience.

The work is part of a broader effort by NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, which funded 25 technology development projects this year aimed at expanding robotic exploration capabilities. Beyond aerial navigation, the program includes work on robotic scouts, long-distance gliders, and systems that could support astronaut missions.

A long history of Mars research on Earth

NASA’s use of Death Valley as a Mars analog site dates back to the 1970s, when the agency prepared for the Viking missions. The region known as Mars Hill earned its name from its volcanic rocks and barren slopes, which resemble Martian geology.

More recently, the area has supported testing for the Perseverance rover’s precision landing system. The latest drone tests continue this legacy, using the park as a proving ground for future space technologies.

Additional tests were conducted at the Dumont Dunes in the Mojave Desert, a site previously used to evaluate mobility systems for the Curiosity rover. The rippled sand dunes provided another variation of feature-poor terrain for evaluating aerial autonomy.

Preparing for more challenging missions

JPL researchers emphasize that field testing remains essential for understanding how autonomous systems behave in real-world conditions.

As NASA looks ahead to future Mars missions, lessons learned from Earth-based drone testing could play a critical role in enabling aerial vehicles to explore more complex and scientifically valuable regions of the planet, even when terrain and conditions push the limits of autonomy.

Read more:

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• Drones on Mars: Skypersonic on the Drone Radio Show Podcast with Randy Goers
• Drones on Mars: Skypersonic Tests Technology on Sicily’s Mt. Etna, Piloted from Houston