"Significant findings from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, now exploring Meridiani Planum on Mars, will be announced at a press briefing Tuesday," said space agency spokesman Don Savage.

Two robotic probes have been landed on Mars with aim of finding signs of water and potential past life on the Red Planet.

NASA's associate administrator Ed Weiler is scheduled to attend the press conference at 2:00 pm (1900 GMT) in Washington.

He will be accompanied by the mission's top geologist Professor Steve Squyres who will travel from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The work of the probes, Opportunity and Spirit, which are on opposite poles on Mars, is to continue until April.

Spirit landed on January 3 and Opportunity 21 days later.

SPACE.WIRE