A DIY kit that builds into a working model of a Mars rover, based on NASA's Perseverance. You assemble it yourself, then drive it by remote control and code it. It is a hands-on project in robotics, electronics and space exploration.

Motor control, sensors, wireless communication and how a rover navigates, plus practical experience of handling electronic components and assembling a working machine.

Ages 11 and up. The assembly has detailed steps and some small components, so younger builders will want an adult alongside them.

No. The kit is designed for beginners, and the build guide takes you through the whole assembly step by step.

Around 20 hours. It is a long build, so it splits well across several sittings. Assembly is only the first part; after that come driving it, programming it and adding modules.

No. The build guide is published online rather than printed. If you would rather work from paper, see "Printing the Mars Rover build guide".

Remote control driving over radio (RF), a controllable robotic arm and a rotating camera tower. The Mission Control module, which you build yourself, displays the camera feed and adds further controls.

Six AA cells.

Yes. You code the Rover in CircuitBlocks, our own editor, which writes MicroPython, the language every CircuitMess device runs. You can change how it drives, how it responds to obstacles and what the arm does, and you can extend it with additional modules. The firmware is open source, so you can also read and modify what is already there.

One thing worth knowing before you start: loading your own code replaces the firmware the Rover shipped with, so the stock remote control stops working while your program is on it. Use Restore firmware in the same editor to put the original back. Nothing is damaged by the swap.