The , dubbed R10, was uploaded to the rover during its 350-million-mile journey to Mars and is waiting to be activated. If all goes as planned, it will take four days to update the software on the rover's main computer and its backup computer.

While the was cruising through space, it received a software update that guided the craft through entry into the Martian atmosphere and to its landing. Now NASA engineers will for software that will operate the rover's activities on the surface of Mars.

"We're going to jettison the EDL (entry descent landing) software," joked Ben Cichy, a senior software and systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "The surface mission is quite complicated and needs a lot of smarts... was born to drive. We're giving her the capability to get out and stretch her wheels on the surface of Mars."

Speaking at a press conference Friday, Cichy explained that the upgrade will start Saturday but engineers will take their time, easing into the upgrade to make sure there are no problems.

"On Sol 5, we'll do a toe dip into the new software," said Cichy. "We'll install it softly just to check it out. Then if everything looks good, on Sol 6 we'll do the full install on the main computer. Then on Sol 7 we'll start with the backup computer."