As NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity landed on its new site, Endeavour crater, on the Martian surface on August 9, scientists assumed it started paving way towards possible future human missions to planet Mars.

Rover arrived at the crater’s rim to examine rocks much ancient than those studied before, NASA said in a statement.

NASA’s Mars Exploration Orbiter, which was launched on August 12, 2005, had detected clay minerals at Endeavour crater pointing towards possibility of an early warmer and wetter period.

“Clay minerals form in wet conditions so we may learn about a potentially habitable environment that appears to have been very different from those responsible for the rocks comprising the plains,” said Matthew Golombek, Mars Exploration Rover science team member.

Several evidences that suggest water flowed on Mars have been discovered in the recent past. Scientists speculate that water may have supported microbial life on the Red Planet but “if water remained long enough to provide a habitat for life,” is not yet found.

As NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity continues its operations to get confirmed clues to wet environments on ancient Mars at the new site, have a look at some of the latest Mars’ pictures that were never seen before. Press ‘Start.’

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Planet Mars You Never Saw Before
A portion of the west rim of Endeavour crater sweeps southward in this color view from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. This crater -- with a diameter of about 14 miles (22 kilometers) -- is more than 25 times wider than any that Opportunity has previously approached during the rover's 90 months on Mars. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/ASU
West Rim of Endeavour Crater on Mars
The view of the west rim of Endeavour crater is presented in false color to emphasize differences among materials in the rocks and the soils. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/ASU
Arrival at Spirit Point by Mars Rover Opportunity
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity arrived at the rim of Endeavour crater on Aug. 9, 2011, after a trek of more than 13 miles (21 kilometers) lasting nearly three years since departing the rover's previous major destination, Victoria crater, in August 2008.After arrival, Opportunity used its panoramic camera (Pancam) to record the images combined into this mosaic view. The view scene shows the "Spirit Point" area of the rim, including a small crater, "Odyssey" on the rim, and the interior of Endeavour beyond. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/ASU
Small Odyssey Crater on Rim of Huge Endeavour Crater
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity arrived at the rim of Endeavour crater on Aug. 9, 2011, after a trek of more than 13 miles (21 kilometers) lasting nearly three years since departing the rover's previous major destination, Victoria crater, in August 2008 NASA/JPL-Caltech
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