![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2016\/09\/rover_and_toy_rosetta_in_mars_yard\/16110888-3-eng-GB\/Rover_and_toy_Rosetta_in_Mars_Yard_small.jpg\")
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\nAn ESA rover under testing is joined in the Agency\u2019s rocky \u2018Mars Yard\u2019 by a plush toy version of Rosetta.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis comet-chasing spacecraft was never intended to be a lander, but Rosetta will be following its Philae lander (seen atop Rosetta here) down to the surface of 67P\/Churyumov\u2013Gerasimenko in a controlled descent on 30 September<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nThen on Sunday 2 October, comes ESA\u2019s annual Open Day in the Netherlands: your chance to see this 8 x 8 m Mars Yard \u2013 part of ESA\u2019s Planetary Robotics Laboratory<\/a> \u2013 and the rest of ESA\u2019s technical heart in Noordwijk for yourself.\n<\/p>\n \nThe Open Day will also give visitors a chance to learn first-hand about ESA\u2019s next planetary landing: the touchdown of the Schiaparelli demonstrator<\/a> of the ExoMars mission on 19 October.\n<\/p>\n \nThe annual Open Day<\/a> takes place as part of the Netherlands\u2019 national Weekend of Science<\/a>, as well as World Space Week.\n<\/p>\n \nAll visitors must book to gain entry on the Open Day. To register, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nAn ESA rover under testing is joined in the Agency’s rocky ‘Mars Yard’ by a plush toy version of Rosetta.\n<\/p>\n \nThis comet-chasing spacecraft was never intended to be a lander, but Rosetta will be following its Philae lander (seen atop Rosetta here) down to the surface of 67P\/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in a controlled descent on 30 September<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nThen on Sunday 2 October, comes ESA’s annual Open Day in the Netherlands: your chance to see this 8 x 8 m Mars Yard – part of ESA’s Planetary Robotics Laboratory<\/a> – and the rest of ESA’s technical heart in Noordwijk for yourself.\n<\/p>\n \nThe Open Day will also give visitors a chance to learn first-hand about ESA’s next planetary landing: the touchdown of the Schiaparelli demonstrator<\/a> of the ExoMars mission on 19 October.\n<\/p>\n \nThe annual Open Day<\/a> takes place as part of the Netherlands’ national Weekend of Science<\/a>, as well as World Space Week.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n