A Mars rover prototype completed an eight‑day field trial covering 220 metres across the Tabernas desert in south‑eastern Spain, rehearsing procedures that the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover may use after its planned 2030 landing. The exercise, held in September, brought together a rover named Charlie — built by Airbus — and roughly 100 scientists and engineers from European institutions. Their objective was to choreograph safe movement, exploration strategies and data collection techniques.

The desert’s barren terrain and mineral composition were selected for their resemblance to Martian landscapes, allowing the team to stress‑test science operations and decision‑making processes. Engineers ran the same guidance, navigation and control software that will guide the Rosalind Franklin rover, enabling it to reach targets while avoiding hazards.

At the Rover Operations Control Centre in Turin, Italy, the team relied on imagery, subsurface radar and spectral data transmitted by Charlie to pinpoint promising sites for life‑searching experiments. “The rover worked like a charm,” said Luc Joudrier, operations lead for the Rosalind Franklin rover. “On day six it travelled more than 60 metres with less than a 1 % navigation error, operating autonomously for that stretch.”

Challenges emerged during the simulation. Steep slopes proved difficult to assess from limited rover data; initial conservative routing was later adjusted after consulting a digital elevation map. On another occasion, rain interrupted testing, prompting the team to re‑prioritise tasks.

Scientists emphasized the importance of rapid, coordinated responses to daily data downlinks. “We must make each day on Mars count,” noted Jorge Vago, ExoMars project scientist. Instruments aboard Charlie — including PanCam cameras, CLUPI close‑up optics, the Enfys spectrometer and the WISDOM ground‑penetrating radar — were used to gather data relevant to detecting ancient microbial activity.

The 20‑day campaign, organised by Airbus UK with operational support from The Open University and Thales Alenia Space, served as a realistic rehearsal for remote mission planning. A follow‑up field test is scheduled for summer 2027, introducing additional complexity such as coordination with the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. Participants described the exercise as a crucial step toward ensuring that rover operations will feel routine when the Rosalind Franklin rover eventually lands on Mars in 2030.