About Mars Yard
The Mars Yard at the Open University is an indoor planetary analogue facility. It recreates the terrain of the Martian surface so that students can operate a rover just as a real mission team would. During the workshop, participants take on roles within a mission team, such as science, engineering, planning and operations. They work through a series of simulated Martian days ("sols") to plan rover traverses, carry out science objectives and respond to unexpected challenges. The activity uses planning tools similar to those used on real rover missions and gives students hands-on experience of how planetary exploration missions are run
Application Process
Widening participation was a key aim of this event. Applicants could apply in written, audio or video form, a flexible format that has worked well for previous SUN opportunities. We received 86 applications from university and college students across a range of qualifications. Most came from engineering backgrounds, so we're keen to reach more college students and those from the many other disciplines that make up the wider space sector in future. In total, 18 students from 11 universities took part in the workshop.
Workshop Running
The workshop was delivered very successfully, and student engagement was consistently strong throughout the week. Students quickly adapted to the simulation environment and grew in confidence as the mission progressed. It was particularly notable to see how they developed their communication, decision-making and leadership skills over the course of the exercise. The level of participation, the clear improvement in team performance across the week and the strong attendance at the final debrief all show that the activity successfully simulated a Mars mission scenario and supported student development.
Above: This year's mission patch designed by one of the students
Left: The SUN x OU Mars Yard 2026 Team
Student Feedback
“I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this activity to my astrophilic friends. Throughout the event, I grew into the role I was assigned. I learnt about how space planning takes place and got to communicate from other equally curious and talented individuals. I think Mars Yard is one of those events where you can watch yourself grow if you're willing to face change.”
“I strongly recommend this activity to anyone, whether they are interested in space exploration or not. Its one of the very few opportunities that actually put you in a mission scenario with nothing but your team who you have never met. It gives a strong sense of direction for people who might be interested in space but want a more practical experience in what that could entail, even outside of space there are many aspects that student might get an idea about. It forms important skills that are relevant in any industry and you get to learn a lot about yourself and team missions. Overall, it is a great activity for anyone and definitely develops a persons confidence and skillsets.”
“I really enjoyed this activity. It was engaging and well organised. The team running it were enthusiastic and clearly knowledgeable, which made the experience even more enjoyable”.
“I got to experience using an interface similar to the ones used when planning actual rover missions; that was quite exciting to know about. I got a lot of advice regarding internships, personality development, technical standpoints and more from official NASA employees (which is SUPER amazing). I got to interact with 17 other individuals who exposed me to various methods of thinking. I learnt to cooperate, consult and coordinate as I progressed through the various sols. I learnt about the essence of well developed but time bound discussions and time management.”
Conclusion
The workshop demonstrated the continued value of the Mars Yard experience as a training and engagement activity for students.
Dr Ben Dryer from the Open University described the impact of the SUN Special Project funding that the Open University received in 2024/25 to upgrade the Mars Yard into the asset it is today:
“SUN’s special project funding transformed our internal Mars Yard into a professional asset. The investment allowed us to build the reliability needed to pitch the activity to external partners, directly boosting our reach and income through new student missions. In just one year, the impact has come full circle: the ExoMars EnFys team is now using the Yard for their own mission training. It was a modest investment that sparked a huge increase in our real-world reach that we are excited to continue to offer to develop transferable space skills for diverse audiences of students.”
Looking Ahead
Building on the success of Mars Yard 2026, SUN plans to continue offering hands-on opportunities for students in the coming year, and to welcome participants from an even wider range of backgrounds and disciplines. Mars Yard 2027 is expected to run in February =, with applications opening in October!. Students interested in future opportunities are encouraged to visit the SUN website to read about upcoming activities as soon as they are announced.
SUN extends its thanks to all members of the Open University involved in delivering Mars Yard 2026, and congratulates all the participating students on their excellent work!