Opportunity rolls onto Mars

Nasa’s Opportunity rolled off its lander and on to the rusty soil of Mars early today, a week after the six-wheeled rover arrived on the Red Planet – and just hours after confirmation of its first major geologic discovery.

Scientists at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory erupted in cheers as the first photograph taken by Opportunity following its roll-off appeared on a screen in mission control. More pictures flooded in minutes later to continued cheers and applause.