MARS TECHNOLOGY CREATED IN SURREY
Scientists at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory are creating new technology set to be sent to Mars. The laboratory, located in a Victorian mansion in the Surrey Hills, was founded in 1966 with the help of the Mullard Group electronics company.
Engineer Barry Whiteside, who is working on instruments that will be placed on a rover to explore the surface of Mars, stated: 'An infrared spectrometer will look at different rocks and materials. It has a 2m (6ft) drill that will go deep into the surface, deeper than any other rover has ever gone before. Along with other remote instruments on the rover, it will hopefully help us find the building blocks of life on Mars.'
'I was proud when my mum put something [I had made] on the fridge, let alone going to a different planet, so that's very nice.'
Dr. Catherine Regan said: 'We don't want to take any contamination into space. If we find life, we want to be sure it is Martian life, and not life we have taken from Earth.'
Mars travels from Surrey.
