IT innovator SciSys has secured a €2m (£1.59m) order to develop software for the next Mars rover as part of the European Space Agency’s 2018 mission to the red planet.
The Chippenham-based firm, which has its roots in the space industry, will work on the vehicle visual localisation flight software (VISLOC) responsible for self-localising and navigating the rover as it explores Mars’ surface.
SciSys’ software will be an essential part of ESA’s ExoMars programme which will investigate the Martian environment and demonstrate new technologies to pave the way for a future Mars mission in the 2020’s.
The first Mars exploratory vehicle developed in Europe, it will have an unmatched capability to autonomously navigate up to 70 metres a day with no outside guidance from ground control. The contract was awarded by Airbus Defence and Space, which recently opened a state-of-the-art extended ‘Mars yard’ test area at its Stevenage base. 
The firm, which also offices in Bristol and Reading and three bases Germany, said a “significant majority” of the contract value would be recognised in the current and forthcoming accounting periods up to early 2017.
SciSys divisional director space Dr Horst Wulf said: “This is an impressive result for SciSys.
“Over the past years our space robotics team has gained significant experience and developed technical capabilities which are leading in Europe. This combined with our onboard software track record helped position ourselves to successfully compete for this contract.”
SciSys CEO Klaus Heidrich added: “SciSys feels tremendous pride in being able to contribute to this prestigious European mission to Mars.
“It furthermore demonstrates the UK’s leading position in robotics and fully justifies the investment the UK Government is making in this domain.”
SciSys also operates in the defence, environmental and media industries, developing specialist software for blue-chip business and media companies as well as governments.
