Rover mockups in Mars Yard

Rover mockups in a Mars yard. These robots are used to demonstrate key technologies that Europe needs to master for future planetary exploration missions. This includes moving on the surface, collecting sample tubes and martian soil, and analysing samples autonomously. The models were on display at Airbus's facility in Stevenage in the United Kingdom.

In 2028, ESA will launch this ambitious exploration mission to search for past and present signs of life on Mars. Rosalind Franklin will be the first rover to drill to a depth of up to two metres below the martian surface, acquiring samples buried underground and protected from surface radiation and extreme temperatures.