Mars surface recreated for rover mission

The rover will have the capability to autonomously navigate up to 70 metres a day with no outside guidance from ground control, and Mars Yard will allow the ExoMars projects guidance, navigation and control team to finalise the sophisticated navigation system.

Alvaro Gimnez, the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency, said: A facility like this enables us to develop sophisticated navigation systems to teach Mars rovers how to drive autonomously across the Red Planet.

This will be a fantastic resource for the ExoMars rover team and for future missions to come.

Opening the facility, Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said: The ExoMars rover represents the best of British high-value manufacturing.

The technologies developed as part of the programme, such as autonomous navigation systems, new welding materials and techniques, will also have real impacts on other sectors, helping them stay on the cutting edge.

Not only is it hugely exciting that Europes next mission to Mars will be British built, but it is incredibly rewarding to see the benefits of our investment in the European Space Agency creating jobs here in the UK."

Manufacture of the flight rover will begin early in 2015 after construction of an advanced clean room for interplanetary missions at the Airbus Defence and Space site.

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Mars surface recreated for rover mission