abandoned corner of southwestern Spain has become the latest testing ground for equipment that could one day be used on a manned-mission to Mars.

The arid area of Rio Tinto, a former mining area in the Huelva district of Andalusia, was the site chosen to test a new space suit and a prototype unmanned rover named Eurobot.
The unusual chemical and geological make-up of the landscape makes it the closest to conditions on the Red Planet in Europe, scientists said.
"This is a dress rehearsal for the biggest journey our civilisation has ever taken," said Gernot Groemer of the Austrian Space Forum who led the expedition team to Spain last week.
"We have a mineral here called jarosite - and that is exactly what we have on Mars."
The team tested new technology that has been three years in development - a spacesuit simulator called Aouda X, which has been partially funded by the Europlanet network.