Back to Mars - European Way

The European Space Agency (Esa) is pushing forward with its design for a rover mission to send to Mars in 2013.



Project teams have been authorised to investigate a concept that would launch a 205kg robot on a heavy-lift rocket.



The vehicle, expected to land in September 2014, would be equipped with a 16.5kg package of instruments to search for past or present life.



The concept is bigger - and much more expensive - than the one originally approved by space ministers in 2005.

Design boost for European rover