Mars Rover or Batmobile? 'Mystery' prototype Nasa space vehicle revealed

Nasa has been quietly working on a new Mars Rover concept that looks like something straight out of Bruce Wayne's Batcave.

The prototype vehicle, which heavily resembles the "Tumbler" Batmobile driven by Christian Bale in 2005's Batman Begins, was shopped by social media users shortly after it was shown at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center on 9 May.

According to Business Insider, the rover was developed by Nasa alongside an unnamed television network and Parker Brother Concepts, a US company that designs and builds concept vehicles. The six-wheel vehicle is constructed of aluminium and carbon fibre and measures nearly 30ft long, tipping the scales at around 2.3 tonnes.

Each of its six wheels measure 50in in diameter and feature independent suspension and finned tyres, allowing the rover to traverse the sandy, rocky terrain one might find covering the Red Planet. As there are no petrol stations in space, the all-electric rover is instead powered by solar panels and a 700-volt battery.

Behind the cockpit is a laboratory area where astronauts can carry out research experiments. This can be detached, allowing the vehicle to scout the planet while astronauts conduct research and then return to it later.

The rover has been built for educational purposes only, meaning it will never actually get to touch Martian soil. Instead, the rover will be taken on a tour of the US as part of Nasa's upcoming Summer of Mars exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.