The roboter MARS ROVERor also called Bridget should explore the mars planet in 2011. It is 3m x 1,8m large. EADS Astrium is developing the first European Mars rover and it will demonstrate flight and in-situ qualification of key exploration enabling technologies to support the European ambitions for future robotic and human exploration missions. The main technology demonstration objectives are: - Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) of a large payload on the surface of Mars, - surface mobility using a rover with a mobility range of several kilometres, - access to sub-surface using a drill to acquire samples at depths of down to two metres, - autonomous navigation using stereo cameras to map a 3D image of the surrounding terrain, - automatic sample preparation and distribution for analyses of scientific experiments. In parallel, important scientific objectives will be accomplished through a state-of-the art scientific payload.
© EADS 2010