Loughborough College Space Engineering students have been given the chance to meet a robot which is moving us a step closer to discovering evidence of life on Mars.
The group, all studying on the unique course delivered by the College in association with the National Space Academy, were introduced to ‘Bruno’ by Airbus Defence and Space’s Paul Meacham, Lead Systems Engineer for the ExoMars Rover Vehicle Project.
The stripped-down prototype of the planned robotic rover belongs to a trio, also including Bridget and Bryan, which is part of the international ExoMars programme - led by the European Space Agency and the Russian Roscosmos State Corporation.
During its six month mission the rover is set to cover 70 metres each day and will be capable of drilling two metres below the surface of Mars in order to extract samples for analysis in its on-board laboratory, looking for biochemical signatures of life.
“Our Space Engineering students were amazed by seeing the ExoMars Rover in action,” said Dr Zoe Washington, Space Engineering course leader at Loughborough College.
“They knew about Bruno and the planned mission to Mars but to see it up close – for example how the rover dealt with travelling over rocks by having flexible wheels – really brought the engineering solutions to life.
“The second year students have been tasked with designing and building a rover to land on Mars so their conversations with the Airbus engineers have proven invaluable.”
Andy McMurray, Head of Teaching and Learning at the National Space Academy, added: “Students were given a fantastic insight into the engineering challenges faced by a rover on the planet and some of the unique features that make the ExoMars rover capable of detecting evidence, if it exists, of life having once been present on Mars.”
Pictured: Loughborough College Space Engineering students with ‘Bruno’ in a simulated Martian landscape at the National Space Centre.