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Computer Swp on Curiosity Rover
Jet Propulsion Laboratory ^ | 2/28/2013 | JPL

Posted on 03/01/2013 8:23:20 PM PST by dr_lew

PASADENA, Calif. - The ground team for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has switched the rover to a redundant onboard computer in response to a memory issue on the computer that had been active. The intentional swap at about 2:30 a.m. PST today (Thursday, Feb. 28) put the rover, as anticipated, into a minimal-activity precautionary status called "safe mode." The team is shifting the rover from safe mode to operational status over the next few days and is troubleshooting the condition that affected operations yesterday. The condition is related to a glitch in flash memory linked to the other, now-inactive, computer.

(Excerpt) Read more at mars.jpl.nasa.gov ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: curiosity; mars; space
Not good! The probability is that they will be able to continue operations after accommodating their operations to whatever problem they diagnose, but it is still "early innings". Better head up the mountain while you can! They've been cooling their heels in this same spot for over a month, now.
1 posted on 03/01/2013 8:23:24 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew

AAAAAARGH! The preview didn’t show me the title, or at least I didn’t see it until I clicked “post”. AAAAAAARGH again!


2 posted on 03/01/2013 8:26:23 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew

But what does this have to do with global warming?

How do muslims feel about it?


3 posted on 03/01/2013 8:28:22 PM PST by brownsfan (Behold, the power of government cheese.)
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To: dr_lew

Having a backup computer is a good thing.


4 posted on 03/01/2013 8:33:26 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: dr_lew

Could be radiation effects. Single-event glitch? What is the total gamma dose rate at Mars surface?


5 posted on 03/01/2013 8:34:42 PM PST by DBrow
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To: DBrow
Heh. Cf. Wikipedia, Mars Radiation Environment Experiment

Ironically, in the Autumn of 2003 after a series of particularly strong solar flares MARIE started malfunctioning, probably as a result of being exposed to the solar flare's intense blast of particle radiation. The instrument was never restored to working order.

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

6 posted on 03/01/2013 8:42:19 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew
Mars doesn't have much, if any, magnetosphere, so any particle coming from the sun or anywhere can just barrel right in.
Just a single little one or zero needs to be set wrong to upset the whole apple cart.
Imagine there is shielding, but......................
7 posted on 03/01/2013 8:56:46 PM PST by The Cajun (Sarah Palin, Mark Levin......Nuff said.)
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To: dr_lew
If we're still communicating with them, I'm guessing the restart was not in "Safe Mode," but "Safe Mode With Networking."

Know your start-up options.

8 posted on 03/01/2013 9:31:47 PM PST by FredZarguna (I ride around nights mostly...subways, buses...If I'm gonna do that I might as well get paid for it.)
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To: dr_lew

Tech guy at NASA: “Did we pack the recovery disk with the rover?”


9 posted on 03/02/2013 6:13:59 AM PST by Flick Lives (We're going to be just like the old Soviet Union, but with free cell phones!)
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To: dr_lew

"They got it working again? Oh thank-God!"
10 posted on 03/02/2013 8:30:18 AM PST by Rebelbase ( .223, .224, whatever it takes....)
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