On October 1, 2026, ESA’s field trial in Tabernas, Almería, put Charlie—a six-wheeled rover prototype—through exercises for the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission. ESA’s stated goals included rehearsing remote operations, validating autonomous navigation and simulating science activities.
ESA’s Charlie trial in Tabernas
Charlie is a prototype used to test technologies and operating procedures relevant to Rosalind Franklin. It is distinct from the mission’s rover, which ESA plans to send to Mars in 2030.
How the remote operation was planned
ESA’s plan called for operating Charlie over a satellite link from the Rover Operations Control Centre (ROCC) in Turin, Italy. The exercise was intended to test how a remote team could plan rover activity while the prototype navigated autonomously in the field.
The operating cycle involved sending field information to Turin at the end of each day. Engineers there analyzed images and prepared plans; Charlie then carried out its daily plan under the supervision of engineers at the site.
Schaeffer’s nine-day assessment
Vincent Schaeffer, Airbus Defence and Space’s spokesperson and field-test lead, said that after nine days of simulation, the plans sent from Turin worked correctly.
Charlie’s connection to Rosalind Franklin
The Tabernas exercises focused on technologies and operations relevant to ExoMars Rosalind Franklin. ESA plans for the mission to arrive on Mars in 2030 and search for evidence of past or present life.
