NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Recovers After Serious Glitch

Futurism.com ^

[BenLurkin]

When Curiosity attempted to come back online after an inactive period — a process it’s completed more than 30 times previously, according to the post — a glitch triggered a “protective safe mode.”

Scientists back on Earth are working to forensically reconstruct what happened during the hiccup by downloading a snapshot of its memory. They’re also taking a hiatus from its scientific work — which is frustrating for researchers, Space.com pointed out, because they’d been about to drill an “intriguing rock” about 650 feet from the rover’s current location.

“In the short term, we are limiting commands to the vehicle to minimize changes to its memory,” Lee said. “We don’t want to destroy any evidence of what might have caused the computer reset. As a result, we expect science operations will be suspended for a short period of time.”

[Ezekiel]

they’d been about to drill an “intriguing rock” about 650 feet from the rover’s current location.

Maybe it got too curious.

[rfp1234]

Sheila Jackson Lee is relieved. Now it can resume its quest for Armstrong and Aldrin’s flag.

[outofsalt]

[blueunicorn6]

Oh thank goodness.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I can never get enough of looking at Mars.

The Leaning Tower of Venice.

The romantic Gorgonzolas on the canals.

[dragnet2]

It’s amazing they still have any control over the vehicle. It’s years past it’s mission duration.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[TigersEye]

Rover: “News of my death was pre mature.”

[NonValueAdded]

Chill, scientists, the rock ain’t going anywhere

[fastrock]

There’s not time to fix it, just make it work!!!

[TigersEye]

Boy are you going to be embarrassed if it isn’t there when they get the Rover up and running again!

[Deaf Smith]

That rock was a mirage.

[Paal Gulli]

[Tucker39]

Maybe the rock isn’t in the mood to be drilled.

[dfwgator]

Maybe the rock isn’t in the mood to be drilled.

[Tucker39]

Not THAT rock.

[windsorknot]

Where’s the proof that there’s even a “rover” on Mars? /s

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj. It would be fun (well, and expensive) to send a spiderlike walking rover powered by AI to each of our Mars rovers and evaluate them, then effect repairs, then leave. That would also be a nice prank to pull on the Martians. ;^)

[Cementjungle]

They should rename that thing Ruth.

[jmcenanly]

If it does, it will be the story of the New millennium.