New Delhi:
NASA has taken to the lava fields of Iceland to get its new robotic space explorer ready for the job. The organisation is preparing for the next mission to Mars in 2020. According to AFP report, the Lambahraun lava field at the foot of Iceland's second biggest glacier, Langjokull, was chosen as a stand-in for the Red Planet's surface.
For three weeks, 15 scientists and engineers sent by the US space agency descended on the site, 100 kilometres from the capital, Reykjavik, last month to develop a prototype. It will aim to continue the work of the "Curiosity" rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012 in search of signs of ancient life and making preparations for human exploration.
Experts say that Iceland, a volcanic island in the middle of the North Atlantic, is in many ways reminiscent of the fourth planet from the Sun. "It's a very good analogue for Mars exploration and learning how to drive Mars rovers," said Adam Deslauriers, manager of space and education, at Canada's Mission Control Space Services.
The company has been commissioned by NASA to test a rover prototype as part of the SAND-E (Semi-Autonomous Navigation for Detrital Environments) project.
