It has been announced that the UK will lead the design and build of Europe’s next rover to Mars. Part of the European Space Agency’s ExoMars programme, this robotic explorer will drill down up two metres to search for signs of microbial life beneath the Martian surface. To find out about the rover, its mission, and the challenges involved I spoke to the ExoMars Systems Engineer Paul Meacham, based at Airbus Defence & Space, about the project and the technical challenges involved.

Originally broadcast (in edited form) on 18th December 2014 as part of Pythagoras’ Trousers on Radio Cardiff.