The decision to further delay the launch of the second Mars Expedition Rover, dubbed Opportunity, was made following an inspection of the Delta II rocket to be used in its launch, the US space agency said.

The delay was deemed necessary to allow the rocket's manufacturer, Boeing, to make some modifications.

The probe is scheduled to land on January 25, 2004 in an area of Mars known as the Meridiani Planum.

The first probe, named Spirit, blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on June 10 and is expected to land in the Red Planet's Gusev crater on January

SPACE.WIRE