莱斯特:National Space Centre火星车展览

Enoch

[Leicester Mercury 英文报道 3月23日]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.u ... ;contentPK=20209239

SPACE CENTRE ROVER ROBOT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

Get a closer look at life on Mars - with a little help of Bridget the robot rover.

Yesterday, the National Space Centre unveiled its latest attraction, in time for the Easter weekend.

The Mars Yard - a model of the Martian surface - will be used to test the next generation of multi-million pound rover robots, before their mission to the Red Planet.



Bridget, otherwise known as the ExoMars robot, is in training for her Mars mission in 2013, and will be put through her paces in the centre's Mars Yard.

Visitors can also attend workshops and build their own rover robot.

The ExoMars mission is being led by the European Space Agency and scientists hope it will understand the biological environment on Mars in preparation for human exploration. Data from the mission will also give information which could help with the search for life on other planets.

Malika Andress, of the National Space Centre, said: "Once again the National Space Centre is working with scientists and the space community to showcase the latest developments in space exploration.

"It is vital for us to tell the story of how the UK is leading the world on missions of this nature. We are sure visitors will not only enjoy meeting the robot that is about to travel for 11 months into the depths of space, but also for them to get involved in hands-on workshops."

Jeremy Close, of Astrium - a company which helped develop Bridget, said: "Steering the rover will rely on the stereoscopic cameras at the top of a two- metre mast.

"It will also have four hazard cameras to avoid obstacles."