ExoMars rover twin drills deep on Earth

The depth is significantly deeper than any rover has drilled on the Red Planet, where the deepest samples taken are from just 7cm. Reaching 1.7m in the simulated conditions bodes well for the ExoMars mission proper, the launch window of which opens in just over one years’ time on 20 September 2022.

ExoMars navigation software gets put through its paces

Known as the Ground Test Model, the ExoMars twin rover is fully representative of the vehicle that will be sent to Mars. The first samples have been collected as part of a series of tests at the Mars Terrain Simulator at the ALTEC premises in Turin, Italy. The drill was developed by Leonardo, with Thales Alenia Space the prime contractor for the overall ExoMars mission.

This first sample was taken from a block of cemented clay of medium hardness. Drilling took place on a dedicated platform tilted at seven degrees to simulate the collection of a sample in a non-vertical position. The sample was taken in the shape of a pellet of about 1cm in diameter and 2cm long. Rosalind Franklin’s drill retains the sample with a shutter that prevents it from dropping out during retrieval.