Mars rover twin ready to roll onto planet's surface
Except for its robotic arm, Opportunity finished unfolding and standing up from its landing position and is ready to travel the final 10 feet from its lander to the surface of Mars, possibly late on Saturday, said project manager Pete Theisinger.
NASA earlier had said Opportunity could be ready to reach the surface by Sunday.
Engineers continued to make progress on the Spirit rover, which has been sidelined for more than a week on the other side of Mars.
They were preparing to wipe its flash memory clean of science and engineering files that have stymied its software, said Jennifer Trosper, a mission manager.
The move, likely to be made today, could restore Spirit to full health.
"I think it will be perfect again," Mr Theisinger said.
Spirit resumed acquiring science data today, using its panoramic camera to focus on two rocks scientists have called Cake and Blanco.
To smooth Opportunity's way to the Martian surface, NASA adjusted the forward tilt of its lander, pushing the platform downward so the tips of the preferred exit ramp dug into the soil.
Engineers consider roll-off the riskiest manoeuvre of the surface portion of each mission.
Spirit has resumed using its high-gain antenna needed to debug the rover's problems.
The first picture it took in more than a week was a simple black-and-white photograph showing the rover's robotic arm pressed to a football-sized rock, exactly as it was poised before the problems started.
It's a further indication of Spirit's slow progression back to health, said Cornell University astronomer Steve Squyres, the mission's main scientist.
