THE dazzling success of NASA's rover Curiosity has paved the way for a human conquest of Mars, scientists say, almost one year after the groundbreaking probe first touched down on the Red Planet.
Since it successfully alighted on the Martian surface on August 6, 2012, Curiosity has gathered and beamed back to Earth a treasure trove of information expected to be vital when a manned mission to Mars eventually takes place.
Curiosity, roughly the size of a small 4x4 vehicle and weighing around a ton, has already ticked one of the most important boxes of its mission - establishing beyond doubt that Mars' environment was capable of supporting microbial life in the distant past.
That breakthrough in March means the rover's mission is likely to be extended beyond its provisional two-year mandate.
"Successes of our Curiosity - that dramatic touchdown a year ago and the science findings since then - advance us toward further exploration, including sending humans to an asteroid and Mars," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
"Wheel tracks now will lead to boot prints later."
Curiosity's nerve-jangling touchdown last year - when the six-wheeled robot landed in the Gale Crater, roughly 10 kilometres from the foot of the planet's 5000-metre high Mount Sharp, had also provided crucial encouragement for those hoping to one day mastermind a successful human mission.
The complex nature of the landing showed that successfully landing heavier loads on the planet is possible.
Since it's arrival on Mars, Curiosity has provided more than 190 gigabits of data - equivalent to around 45,600 songs stored in MP3 files - while beaming back some 36,700 full images and 35,000 thumbnail images.
The rover has also fired more than 75,000 laser shots to investigate the composition of the Martian surface while collecting and analysing sample material from two rocks.
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