Planetary rover once intended for Mars tested in Milton Keynes quarry

A planetary rover possibly destined for missions on the moon or Mars has been put through its paces.

Anon was supposed to collect sample tubes left on the surface of Mars.

Perseverance, which landed on the red planet in February 2021, was already collecting samples from the planet, which led to the decision to no longer need the rover.

The SFR is still being put through its paces by the engineers who have worked on it.

Why did it happen?

The event marks the first time that all of the rovers systems are being tested at the same time, and it is necessary for the development process to provide a unique and dynamic landscape.

The UK space sector needs the surface mobility capability to be maintained.

The core technology is still ready and able to go and this is the final step in proving that it works.

At the end of the decade, the focus has shifted to the moon. This software can be applied to any vehicle that is on the moon.

For the rover to be used on future moon missions, engineers will have to rethink temperatures on the lunar surface and how to keep key components working.

After spending 14 nights in sleep mode, they will have to look into how the SFR is powered up.

The four-wheeled prototype is six times faster than the six-wheeled one. The engineers say that this involves greatly improved navigation capability.

However, aside from potentially being used for future moon missions, experts say the SFR's technology could be useful for a number of other things.

Dobke said that it could be scientific to go into places where there's lunar ice.

Whether it be autonomously building habitats or driving astronauts around on the surface, it could be in support of human habitats. There are a lot of different applications that could be done on the moon.

It doesn't mean that all hope is lost for the SFR going to Mars.

The UK Space Agency has developed a huge amount of expertise and know-how in the UK and all the technology that has been developed for Sample Fetch Rover is still useful.

In the future, we think that it can be used in future missions, for example to the moon and future missions to Mars.