Rover goes to Mars Posted by Beverley Smith · July 10, 2018 8th July 2018 A Rover designed by Airbus will be sent on a mission to Mars to collect samples. The samples to be collected are those left by NASA’s Mars 2020. Rover will transfer them to an ascent vehicle and will put them into orbit about the planet, where they will then be brought back to Earth by another spacecraft. Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: “This remarkable new project, which will see samples brought back from Mars to Earth for the first time ever, demonstrates Britain’s world- leading scientific and engineering innovation. “Winning this contract builds on the UK’s world- renowned expertise in space and robotics which the government is supporting through the UK Space Agency and the major investments in our modern Industrial Strategy. “One rover bound for Mars in 2020 is already under construction by Airbus in Stevenage and the knowledge and expertise honed there will now be applied to designing this new mission, which aims to safely deliver – for the first time – material to Earth from another planet.” The UK is a founding member of ESA. UK’s membership will continue after Brexit. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake said: “This is an exciting new era where businesses and space agencies are working closer than ever before on ambitious missions to expand our knowledge of the Solar System and deliver benefits to people’s lives. The close collaboration between the UK and ESA will place Britain at the forefront of innovative missions to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond.” We at Future-Rockets look forward to the success of this mission. 3 comments Tag: Prepare for your journey to Space