While NASA’s Opportunity rover collects soil samples and explores craters, the space agency makes plans for another space rover to launch in 2020.

This artist's rendering provided by NASA shows the Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars. NASA announced Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, it plans to send another Curiosity-like rover to Mars in 2020. (AP Photo/NASA)

Read: Mars Redux: NASA to Launch Curiosity-Like Rover

This image provided by NASA shows a shadow self-portrait taken by NASA’s Opportunity rover on the Martian surface. The solar-powered spacecraft has been exploring a huge crater in the Martian southern hemisphere and has detected what appear to be clay minerals. (AP Photo NASA)

Read: Rover Opportunity May Be at Clay-Rich Site on Mars