US Mars rover re-established communication with Earth for 20 minutes overnight, one day after suffering a serious breakdown that cut off reception, NASA said Friday.

"The spacecraft sent limited data in a proper response to a ground command, and we're planning for commanding further communication sessions later today," said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager Pete Theisinger at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

NASA said the flight team at JPL for the six-wheeled rover - Spirit - received data from the rover in a communication session that lasted 20 minutes at a data rate of 120 bits per second.

Since Wednesday, its 19th day on Mars, the rover lost contact with Earth, sending back only meaningless radio noise or simple beeps acknowledging receipt of commands.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2004)