Engineers Diagnosing Voyager 2 Data System

Jet Propulsion Laboratory ^ | 5/19/2010 | JPL

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

One flip of a bit in the memory of an onboard computer appears to have caused the change in the science data pattern returning from Voyager 2, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said Monday, May 17. A value in a single memory location was changed from a 0 to a 1. On May 12, engineers received a full memory readout from the flight data system computer, which formats the data to send back to Earth. They isolated the one bit in the memory that had changed, and they recreated the effect on a computer at JPL.

They found the effect agrees with data coming down from the spacecraft. They are planning to reset the bit to its normal state on Wednesday, May 19.

Engineers have shifted NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft into a mode that transmits only spacecraft health and status data while they diagnose an unexpected change in the pattern of returning data.

Preliminary engineering data received on May 1 show the spacecraft is basically healthy, and that the source of the issue is the flight data system, which is responsible for formatting the data to send back to Earth. The change in the data return pattern has prevented mission managers from decoding science data.

The first changes in the return of data packets from Voyager 2, which is near the edge of our solar system, appeared on April 22. Mission team members have been working to troubleshoot and resume the regular flow of science data. Because of a planned roll maneuver and moratorium on sending commands, engineers got their first chance to send commands to the spacecraft on April 30.

It takes nearly 13 hours for signals to reach the spacecraft and nearly 13 hours for signals to come down to NASA's Deep Space Network on Earth.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The website “Heavens Above” gives great data on deep space probes

http://www.heavens-above.com/

[Fichori]

I hate it when that happens!

[PA Engineer]

I thought they reported earlier that the checksum was correct.

[Cololeo]

Does anyone think that admitting they contacted ET, when the Messiah is already here, is even slightly in the realm of possibility? Remember, Obama is GOD, there shall be no other. Just ask the MSM.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

You can get Voyager’s 2 weekly Progress report here:

http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/weekly-reports/index.htm

[Frantzie]

V-Jer.

[TChad]

Shoulda bought the ECC RAM.

[NTHockey]

Ah, but WHO flipped the switch?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Voyager 2 Flight Data System hardware in its page

[Brugmansian]

the spacecraft is basically healthy, and that the source of the issue is the flight data system, which is responsible for formatting the data to send back to Earth. The change in the data return pattern has prevented mission managers from decoding science data.

The problem, I am basically thinking, has to do with "data". I get this right? I mean, did I get it "basically" right as opposed to not "basically" right or did I get it "basically" wrong?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Well,,, Your “basically thinking” about the basic problem is, well, basically correct. Basically,,,

I am from The Department Of Redundancy Department! 8^)

[6SJ7]

They found the effect agrees with data coming down from the spacecraft. They are planning to reset the bit to its normal state on Wednesday, May 19.

Wonder if they're using Go To My PC?

[Repeal The 17th]

1 0

[Jonah Hex]

Sometimes a flipped bit bytes...

[bmwcyle]

I am just glad it is not running Microsoft ME.

[reagan_fanatic]

Well, there goes the ‘aliens did it’ theory...

[Robe]

What I find interesting is the transmission time ,13 hrs to get there and 13 back for a total of 26 hrs to communicate.
We will have to get a different mode of communication if we're to venture way out there.
For Example....

SpaceVenture 1,Deep Space Control, come in please.

26hrs later

Deep Space Control,SpaceVenture 1, go ahead...

[tophat9000]

I thought they reported earlier that the checksum was correct.

No they were seeing a checksum error

Radiation can flip a bit in MOS memory but I believe they used old style magnetic core memory in space craft computer because it is non volatile and unaffected by EMP and radiation...

[PA Engineer]

No they were seeing a checksum error

Thanks. I read it incorrectly previously and the article now makes sense. The mystery of the flipped bit makes sense now. Hoping for the best outcome.