Preparing for a first drive on Mars

Before Rosalind Franklin can explore Mars, it has to get off its lander.

Engineers are rehearsing that first journey on Earth, using a full-size rover model and Mars-like terrain. The test recreates some of the challenges Rosalind Franklin will face on the Red Planet, from reduced gravity and a 20-degree incline to uneven ground and obstacles beneath its ramps.

In 2030, Rosalind Franklin will make this journey for real on Mars.