This image provided by NASA taken at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida showing the space shuttle Endeavour moments away from launching.
It will ensure mission costs and risks are as low as possible, while still delivering a highly capable rover with a proven landing system.
The mission is estimated to cost about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. But scientists haven''t spell out exactly what the rover would try to accomplish on Mars.
NASA said that it''s another step toward eventually sending astronauts to the red planet in the 2030s.
"The Obama administration is committed to a robust Mars exploration program," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement.
"With this next mission, we''re ensuring America remains the world leader in the exploration of the Red Planet, while taking another significant step toward sending humans there in the 2030s," Bolden added. (ANI)