The early eye-opening results from NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover mission are helping shape the scope, direction, and timing of future robotic missions to the red planet -- and how soon humans will be Mars bound.The tell-tale clues that Meridiani Planum was water soaked at one time have opened the floodgates of discussion in how best to study Mars in ever-greater detail, as well as sharpen our search for past and even present life.Already on the books is a potent flotilla of NASA Mars craft, such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for 2005, the Phoenix Mars lander in 2007, and a Mars Science Laboratory rover for 2009.But thanks to glimpses provided courtesy of both Spirit and Opportunity, Mars never looked better.The revelations relayed back to Earth by Opportunity have spotlighted future Mars exploration needs for the next decade, said Ed Weiler, NASA head of the Office of Space Science."It’s clear we’re going to have to do a sample mission," Weiler said during Tuesday’s Mars press briefing at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Money needs to be also spent on miniaturizing equipment for transport to Mars. Another priority is to land instruments that pave the way for eventual human landings on the red planet, he said.Gauging the toxicity of martian soil has to be done, Weiler said.

Also, how best to use the minerals on Mars for conversion to oxygen, or to power rockets is high on his action item list. Some future work on Mars may be totally science oriented, Weiler said, some may be totally human preparation oriented. "I have a feeling that all of the missions are going to be a mix of those two things," he said.

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