Source: BBC

4 January 2013 Last updated at 18:10 GMT

Mars rover finally looks set to drill

By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent

Nasa's Curiosity rover is very close to drilling into its first Martian rock, with the set-up operation likely to begin next week.

After breaking for the holidays, the mission team would be raring to undertake the task in the coming days, said lead scientist John Grotzinger.

The robot has driven about 650m from its landing site, dropping down into a depression known as Yellowknife Bay.

It is in this depression that the target rock will probably be chosen.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20901931