Getting samples of space rocks as they land here on Earth is one way of doing planetary science. Another way is to send robots and maybe even people to other planets to gather samples, but before we can do that, we have to design and test those rovers. And what better places to do that testing than analog sites of other planets.

In July 2021, eleven students from all over Europe were brought together on a field trip to Mount Etna in Sicily, and there, they tested a miniature version of the European Space Agency’s next Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch aboard ExoMars in 2022. 

Team member Hannah Reilly, from Technological University Dublin, explains the location: Sicily was chosen due to the fact that Mount Etna is a very similar environment to the Moon and Mars, both being fairly desolate, harsh environments. The constant volcanic activity at Mount Etna means that the terrain and surrounding areas are constantly changing and covered in fresh volcanic soil, similar to soil found on other planets. Volcanic areas are usually chosen for campaigns like this.

The team developed their own camera which could generate 360-degree panoramic images. They had several different types of spectrometers on board so that they could analyze the terrain. They collected samples on-site and were able to analyze them with the rover’s instruments. And all of this work gave field and analysis experience to students, as well as a chance to write papers based on the results and present them at the conference. That sounds like an amazing opportunity all around, and frankly, I’m a bit envious.

More Information

EPSC press release