Some of the Soviet environment is being replicated to help test a future rover . the European Space Agency is planning missions for 2019 and 2018 . Engineers for Airbus Defence and Space in the UK have done just that , building what they call a `` Mars Yard '' just outside London at a cost of about £500,000 ( $ 832,000 ) . The `` Mars Yard '' will be used up until launch but kept available after a rover has landed in 2016 . Two spacecraft are currently en route to Exploring Mars .
Some of the Soviet environment is being replicated to help test a future rover . the European Space Agency is planning missions for 2019 and 2018 . The `` Mars Yard '' will be used up until launch but kept available after a rover has landed in 2016 . Two spacecraft are currently en route to Exploring Mars .