Mars Rover Touches Down; Sends Back Strong Signal, Pictures

In the search to discover whether or not there is or was life on Mars, NASA’s JPL landed Spirit last night and successfully received a signal from the rover.

“We could get part of a panorama this evening. There’s nothing better,” said JPL’s Matthew Golombek, who helped pick the rover’s landing site on Mars.

The rover won’t trundle off on its own for another nine days, however.

The $820 million NASA project also includes a twin rover, Opportunity, which is set to arrive on Mars on Jan. 24.

The camera- and instrument-laden rovers were designed to spend 90 days analyzing Martian rocks and soil for clues that could reveal whether the Red Planet was ever a warmer, wetter place capable of sustaining life.