The rover has demonstrated that it can follow precise trajectories and survey the environment on and below the surface with its instruments, including cameras, spectrometers and a sub-surface sounding radar and neutron detector.

In parallel, the real Rosalind Franklin rover is being prepared for its flight to Mars in nearly a year’s time – the launch window for ExoMars opens on 20 September 2022.

Notes to editors
The ExoMars programme is a joint endeavour between ESA and Roscosmos. In Europe, The rover is a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space – Italia (67%) and Leonardo (33%). Thales is the industrial prime, Leonardo providing the drill, OHB the complex laboratory mechanisms and nine different instrument teams from ESA Member States, NASA/JPL and IKI/Roscosmos providing the payload. Astrium Ltd. (ASU) is responsible for the rover vehicle.