N° 52–2026: Call for interest: Mars rover field trials in Spain

The tests, carried out by ESA, Airbus and European partners, will use a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype known as Charlie to test technologies and operations relevant to ESA’s Exomars Rosalind Franklin Mars mission.

During the campaign, the rover will be operated remotely in the Tabernas desert via satellite link from the Rover Operations Control Centre (ROCC) in Turin, Italy. The teams will also validate the rover’s latest autonomous navigation system and simulate scientific activities that the Rosalind Franklin rover will perform after landing on Mars in 2030 as part of its search for evidence of past or present life.

The field trials will offer participating journalists opportunities to observe and film the rover operations and interview experts from ESA, Airbus and the European research teams involved in the campaign.

The media programme is expected to run from 30 September to 2 October, with the field trials taking place on 1 October. Further details will be shared with confirmed participants.

Registration

Journalists wishing to participate are asked to express their interest via ESA’s media accreditation link HERE as soon as possible and no later than 17:00 CEST on 23 September 2026.

Please note that the number of places is limited and ESA therefore cannot guarantee that all interested media will be able to join the visit. A reserve list may be established in the event of cancellations.

In case of questions, please contact media@esa.int

Images

ESA's Photo Library for Professionals: https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/ 

Terms and conditions for using ESA images: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int 

Videos

ESA's Video Library for Professionals: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos 

Terms and conditions for using ESA video: www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int 

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with three other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement. 

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int.