Despite being separated by thousands of kilometers , martian soils from gusev crater and meridiani planum have proved broadly similar in parts - rich in chlorine and sulfur .
Apart from avoiding hazards and rough ground , it would be able to jump into the bottom of a crater or ravine to analyse samples and take photographs , and then jump out again .
Landing in 2004 in meridiani planum , the robotic opportunity has embarked on its longest and most dangerous trek yet , now aiming to reach large endeavor crater sometime next year .