ScienceAugust 18, 2026

rotorcraft

ROH-ter-kraft

Definition

A type of aircraft that derives its lift from airfoils rotating about an overhead mast, such as a helicopter.

Etymology

The word is a 20th-century compound formed by combining 'rotor'—from the Latin 'rotare' (to turn)—with 'craft,' reflecting the machine's reliance on rotating blades for lift and flight.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe NASA's Dragonfly mission, which serves as a benchmark for rotor-based flight technology that the SPARK project's ion thrusters currently struggle to match in efficiency.

NASA-funded flying robots could soon explore the hidden caves of Saturn's moon Titan

Read the full article ↗

starlust.org

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