[Tallguy]

Testing on Monday and Tuesday suggests that it is not the flash memory itself that is at fault, but the software's file-handling system. Unbeknownst to the engineers, there seems to be a limit on the number of files that can be simultaneously stored in the flash memory, even though the overall memory capacity is not full.

Good grief! This isn't Rocket Surgery y'know!

[Lokibob]

On the JPL site this am, they said that Spirit transmitted 2 pictures overnight. They were optimistic for the recovery.

[Bikers4Bush]

So as I understand it we sent a probe to a planet millions of miles away and never bothered to have some computer geeks do a dry run of the hardware and software before we sent it?

Is there any reasonable explanation for not having run some continuous testing before we shot this sucker into space?

[N. Theknow]

Rovezhiemer's?

[lormand]

I couldn't imagine the latency involved with uploading the software fix.

How long do you think that it takes a packet to reach the Mars Rover from Earth?

[Post Toasties]

As a hardware designer, I could've told NASA that nine out of ten of these problems are software:)

[BigWaveBetty]

"Where am I? Who am I?"

[Slicksadick]

This mornings briefing starts at 9:20 am Pacific time, and can be viewed at JPL's site.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html

[Paradox]

SHEESH! First of all, this is GREAT NEWS, and then, its is BAD NEWS.

Great news is that the Spirit is Lifted!

Bad news is that some IDIOT forgot to check this out BEFORE LAUNCH, or heck, even in transit!

Dear numbnutz, its mv, not cp!

[Mannaggia l'America]

Almost sounds like they are using the MSDOS FAT filesystem, which has a limit of 512 files in the root directory.

Memory cards like those found in digital cameras use FAT. (Which is probably why Microsoft recently decided to assert it's patent on FAT - it seemed odd because DOS is obsolete, but the FAT filesystem is used in lots of places.)

[NCjim]

I seem to recall a limitation in DOS that there was a maximum number of files that could be stored in the root directory. Therefore you had to make subdirectories to circumvent this limitation. Deja vu?

[Daus]

However, Opportunity has developed a problem of its own

NASA has just announced they have changed the names of the Rovers to Pinto and Nova.

[Consort]

A hardware/software glitch is toooo booring. I prefer to think that they found/saw/are testing/are implementing/are planning/are installing.... someting that they don't want to share with us — something......Art Bellian.

[ClearCase_guy]

Opportunity has developed a problem of its own

Latest news: transient problem with Opportunity. This problem occurred once so far. It seems that Opportunity transmitted a disturbing banging sound. Engineers do not expect this problem to recur, having noted that Opportunity knocks but once.

/rimshot

[lilylangtree]

What's that drug for treatment of alzehiemers(sp?)?

[muskogee]

8-bit,16-bit,32-bit,64-bit,or 128-bit file system I wonder? The write command probably failed without giving an error. Easy to miss in testing if you are spot checking reads and writes.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Mars Rover has Alzheimers?!

[OrioleFan]

And here I thought Spirit was transmitting back "Renegotiate" until it found out Opportunity had landed and it wasn't the only game in town.

[Howlin]

Mars Rover Recovering From Memory Problems

Gee, I wonder if JPL can help me?

[thesummerwind]

Mars Rover Recovering From Memory Problems

Damn, I can't even remember last night.

Did anyone see Dennis Miller's second show? If so, give me some stuff!