Before Mars, the Spanish desert: why ESA is testing a rover in Tabernas
The European Space Agency has tested a rover prototype on rocky terrain in Spain’s Tabernas desert. Engineers are checking navigation and remote operating procedures for a future mission. It is preparation for ExoMars, not a Mars landing.
European Space Agency engineers conducted field tests with a rover prototype in the Tabernas desert of southern Spain. ESA says it travelled about 220 metres over eight days while teams rehearsed remote operations.
Why move so slowly?
A planetary rover needs to identify hazards, choose safe paths and execute commands with limited communications. Rocks and uneven ground reveal weaknesses before equipment is sent into space.
What comes next
The exercise supports preparations for the Rosalind Franklin rover in the ExoMars programme. ESA currently points to a 2030 landing, although space schedules can change. The cover illustrates the test and is not a photograph of the specific ESA vehicle.
Source: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/10/Engineers_follow_up_rover_s_moves_in_desert. Cover: editorial illustration.
If you have found a mistake or a typo in this article, tell us about it
Comments (0)
Log in to leave a comment →
No comments yet. Be the first.