Europe's next Mars mission

[5614]

Europe's £400m ExoMars robot, which is expected to be launched to Mars in 2011, has been undergoing tests in Tenerife.

 

The rocks and dust around the volcano El Teide (in Tenerife) is the ideal real life simulation of Mars's surface. The robot, which is about the size of a go-kart, has a top speed of 0.1 miles per hour; however, the aim is durability rather than speed, and so far it has been quite durable on and off the road. The head of the project said "we've got bigger margins, with more finance and more support. We're really confident".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4767403.stm

(includes video of robot in action)