NASA Tests Next-Gen Mars and Moon Rover ERNEST in California Desert

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has completed field testing of its next-generation rover, ERNEST (Exploration Rover for Navigating Extreme Sloped Terrain), in the Colorado Desert of Southern California. The prototype, which has been in development since 2022, autonomously traversed approximately 16 miles (26 kilometers) over 37 hours with minimal human intervention. Unlike the six-wheeled Perseverance and Curiosity rovers currently on Mars, ERNEST has four wheels that can lift independently, allowing it to overcome obstacles that would stymie its predecessors. The rover is designed for both lunar and Martian exploration. Testing occurred in March 2026 under various lighting conditions, including dawn, dusk, and nighttime. Issa Nesnas, a principal technologist at JPL and head of autonomy for the next-gen lunar rover mission, led the testing. Planetary scientist James Keane described the vehicle as capable of a "science road trip across the Moon — or Mars." ERNEST is four feet (1.2 meters) long and is being developed with advanced autonomous capabilities. The field test marks a significant step from virtual prototyping to real-world validation, though the rover is still years away from space deployment.