NASA to Send Second Rover to Mars

Posted December 5th, 2012 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
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The U.S. space agency, NASA, has announced plans to launch another robotic rover to Mars in 2020.

The Opportunity rover would be part of NASA's ambitious program to explore the Martian surface and atmosphere, ahead of its goal to send a manned mission to the red planet in about 20 years.

The Curiosity rover landed on Mars earlier this year and is currently digging through the Martian soil for any evidence that there may have been life on that planet.

Other NASA projects between now and 2020 include an orbiter to study the Martian atmosphere and a probe that would take the first look into the deep interior of Mars.

NASA chief Charles Bolden says these missions ensure the United States will be the world leader in exploring Mars, while taking significant steps toward a manned mission in the 2030s.