The Spirit Mars rover has completed manoeuvres which should allow it to explore the planet surface within days. Twelve pyrotechnic devices were fired successfully, moving the craft onto its six wheels, Nasa scientists said. Concerns remain that an airbag used to protect the rover during landing could hamper its route to the surface. So mission controllers now plan to rotate Spirit 120 degrees before rolling it along what they hope will be a clear path on Wednesday. Unfolding Spirit's wheels and getting it to "stand up" was the latest success for the US space agency Nasa's mission to Mars. Chris Voorhees, an engineer in charge of the process, said it was "intense" to witness the procedure which was met by cheers at mission control in Pasadena where the team played Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" reggae anthem.

He said it was "one of the most complicated deployments that has ever been done on a robotic spacecraft". "We have left Spirit in a very comfortable position. She is asleep right now, comfortable on all six wheels."

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