As humankind aims to take its first steps on Mars, rovers are already exploring the mysteries of the 4th planet from the sun. The Australian Rover Challenge shows what talents are hidden in universities - including Poland.
Decades of preparation for a historic breakthrough
It's been almost 30 years since the Sojourner rover landed on the Red Planet. Although the robot was supposed to operate for only 7 sols (Martian days, or just over an Earth week), the mission lasted for 83 sols, during which it traveled about 100 meters.
More rovers exploring atmospheric conditions and soil content have made their way to the Red Planet, including Opportunity, Curiosity, and China's Zhurong, which landed in 2021. However, it will take several more years before the first human steps foot on the neighboring planet.
Australian competition with Polish accent
One of the initiatives supporting NASA's „Moon to Mars” program is the Australian Rover Challenge competition of the University of Adelaide. Their purpose, among others, is to promote talented students and inspire young people to explore space.
Between March 27 and 30, the next edition of the competition was held. The competitors had to perform tasks simulating lunar missions, including sample identification and regolith transport. Among the participants were students from the AGH