(mib) The world has caught Mars fever. Hardly a day goes by without an announcement from NASA or ESA of news from the neighbouring planet. Media interest was especially great last week and ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne were focal points. "If all goes to plan, one day a Swiss glider will orbit Mars," say media reports. Because ESA, the European Space Agency (1) had charged EPF Lausanne with a preliminary study on the feasibility of a prototype called "Sky Sailor“, part of the project "Star Tiger“ (2). "We are trying to improve the structure, control, aerodynamics and the use of solar energy of a plane, which could fly autonomously in Mars's atmosphere," says Roland Siegwart, Professor at the Autonomous Systems Lab at EPF in Lausanne (3) and former head of the ETH Institute of Robotics in Zurich.

The red planet: picture from the panorama camera on Mars of the exploration rover Spirit. Picture: NASA. large

ETH Zurich is also taking part in the project. Markus Möckli from the Measurement and Control Laboratory, part of the ETH Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (4) is acting as a consultant for the domain flight motion. "ESA is providing the funding for a preliminary study. To start with the theoretical framework is being compiled" is how Möckli puts a dampener on too high expectations. "In a month or two, we'll know more. That's when the first report is due." Based on this report ESA will decide whether funds will continue to flow towards Switzerland.

"Sky Sailor" - Dream glider from EPF Lausanne. With this scientists want to orbit Mars. Picture: EPFL. large

If EPF Lausanne manages to overcome all hurdles – and they are numerous – "Sky Sailor“ could be sent to on a journey to Mars at the earliest in 2009. "Technically we're still a long way away," says Möckli.

According to plans of EPF Lausanne, "Sky Sailor“ should have a wing-span of just under three metres and weigh not more than three kilos. It is to be driven by a propeller, whose motor is charged via solar cells. The glider is to be equipped with mini-cameras that can take pictures of the surface of the red planet.

Richard Kornfeld also caused a great stir. This citizen of Zurich studied engineering at ETH and left to work for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace in St. Louis USA shortly after. He concluded his PhD studies at MIT in aeronautics and astronautics. For the past four years he has been working for the American Space Agency, NASA, in Pasadena, California (5). On 25 January, Kornfeld successfully steered the robot "Opportunity“ over the surface of Mars and on 28 January he was portrayed in the popular programme "Rundschau“ on the Swiss-German TV channel and in one of Zurich's major papers, the "Tages-Anzeiger“.