ESA BIC Austria support · Space tech
ESA backing supports Tumbleweed Mars rover development
The research project secured €50,000 in ESA support alongside technical advice through ESA BIC Austria.
ESA BIC Austria combined financial backing with access to space-sector expertise for Tumbleweed’s Mars-rover project. Cofounder Moritz Stephan described the ESA contribution as €50,000. In June 2020, fellow founder Nicola Weiroster discussed the incubation relationship as the team worked to finish an Earth-based prototype.
The development plan paired field testing in a Mars-like environment with work on a design closer to the requirements of a space mission. The team wanted researchers to integrate their own instruments through a standardized payload interface, allowing one rover design to serve different scientific investigations.
Funding history
ESA BIC Austria support · This round€50K