In a show of technological wizardry, robotic explorer Curiosity blazed through the pink skies of Mars, steering itself to a gentle landing inside a giant crater for the most ambitious dig yet into the red planet’s past.

THE Spirit rover successfully rolled onto Mars early yesterday, placing its six wheels on solid Martian ground for the first time since the robot bounced down on the red planet nearly two weeks ago.

A Nasa spacecraft was today closing in on Mars, carrying a six-wheeled vehicle that is to roam the Red Planet’s rocky surface in search of geologic evidence that Mars was once suitable for life.