Mars it is the most Earth-like of the nine planets that make up the solar system. The great distance from Earth (400 million km from the Earth at the farthest point of its orbit) makes travels to Mars long and dangerous. Hence its exploration has been so far carried out only by robotics means. Thanks to its similarities to Earth (i.e. a solid planet with atmosphere), Mars allows the use of the most diverse robotics means:

-Penetrometers and Robotics Moles for underground exploration
-Rovers (tracked, wheeled or legged) and hoppers for surface exploration
-Aerobots (balloons, blimps, planes and hoppers) for aerial exploration

ESA has a long history of developments of missions to Mars. The earliest work was carried out by the Science Directorate with the Kepler study (1982; 1985) followed by the “Mission to Mars” (1989), the “Marsnet” (1993) and the “Intermarsnet ” (1996) studies. These works prepared for the very succesful “Mars Express” (2003) mission. The “Exobiology” (1999,2000) study, carried out by the Human Spaceflight Directorate instead prepared for the “ExoMars” (2011) mission. The A&R Section has through these years developed robotics equipment in support to these studies and missions.