rover

Russian and Soviet lunar landers used cork to help the rover have grip as it was descending to the surface, he added.

In 2021, China safely landed a spacecraft on Mars and released its Zhurong rover – becoming just the second nation to do so.

By measuring the time it takes radio signals to travel from Earth to spacecraft orbiting Mars, or to rovers on its surface, scientists can calculate the red planet’s distance from Earth within two feet.

“They were really exciting times. Sitting in the control room, moving the rover around on the lunar surface - that was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Prof Vadawale.

The Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have each shown that the planet’s early environment was suitable for microbial life.