U.S. space agency NASA said Tuesday its Curiosity rover has completed its third drilling into a Martian rock and is now preparing to use its internal instruments to study the collected powdered sample.

 Researchers said on Monday they have found evidence that there was once an ancient fresh water lake on Mars that may have been able to support life.

 The dazzling success of NASA's rover Curiosity has paved the way for a human conquest of Mars, scientists say, almost one year after the groundbreaking probe first touched down on the Red Planet.

 Some valleys on the Martian surface appear to have been caused by ancient runoff from melting snow, U.S. researchers said Wednesday.

NASA and private sector experts now agree that a man or woman could be sent on a mission to Mars over the next 20 years, despite huge challenges.

 Comet 2013 A1 (Siding Spring) will make a very close approach to Mars in October 2014, U.S. space agency NASA announced Tuesday in a statement.

 NASA plans to send a new rover to Mars in 2020 as it prepares for a manned mission to the Red Planet, the US space agency said.