NASA scientists celebrated the safe landing of a £1.6 billion robot rover the size of a Mini Cooper on Mars in one of the most daring and difficult interplanetary operations ever attempted.
It is hoped the rover – named Curiosity – will establish whether or not the planet's environment supported life in the past.
Dr John Bridges, from the University of Leicester, one of two British scientists leading teams on the mission, wrote in a live blog from mission control: "Lots of very happy and excited people in this room. What an opportunity we have now to explore this fascinating planet."
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