Inside the ExoMars rover

This visualisation presents a 360º view of the ExoMars rover, focusing on its interior components.
The rover, named 'Rosalind Franklin' after the prominent scientist who co-discovered the structure of DNA, will be the first rover capable of drilling down 2 m, where ancient biomarkers may still be preserved from the harsh radiation environment on the surface. The drill is housed in the box at the front of the rover, and will deliver samples to the large onboard laboratory for analysis inside the rover. The drill also contains a multispectral imager, which will image the walls of the borehole created by the drill to study the mineralogy and rock formation. A dedicated "close-up" imager will acquire high-resolution, colour, close-up images of outcrops, rocks, soils, drill fines and drill core samples.

Navigation cameras (at the top of the mast) and ‘localisation’ cameras (at the base of the mast) are used to determine where the rover is and where it will move. High-resolution scientific cameras also sit at the top of the mast and will provide stereo and 3D imagery of the terrain around the rover. An infrared spectrometer located with the cameras will determine the major mineral composition of rocks, outcrops and soils.

A ground-penetrating radar unit situated at the rear of the rover will provide a detailed view of the Red Planet's shallow subsurface structure by sounding the upper layers of its crust and detecting subsurface water-ice. This will give three-dimensional geological context of the terrain covered by the rover.

Power is supplied to the rover by solar panels. These are folded during the journey to Mars and opened once the rover is on the surface. The rover is is designed to survive the cold martian nights with the help of batteries and heater units.

More about ExoMars: www.esa.int/exomars

Credits: ESA/ATG medialab