While NASA engineers have not fixed what is thought to be the software issue that caused the robotic rover to put itself into a protective mode, they believe they pinpointed the problem.
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It’s a good thing NASA was able to recover the rover, considering that earlier this month, they approved a 2-year extension of Curiosity’s mission.
NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity took this self-portrait on May 11, 2016 at the “Okoruso” drilling site in the foothills of Mount Sharp.
NASA has expected trouble with Curiosity’s camera system, building in other ways for the rover to send images back to earth, meaning we’re not going to lose sight of Mars just yet.
The rover was brought out of safe mode on July 9, and the little nuclear-powered tractor re-entered full operations today (July 11, U.S. time). An alternative means of handling and transmitting image data is now being used. In safe mode, the rover shuts down everything but its most essential functions.
Curiosity was now communicating with ground controllers and was stable. “Out of safe mode-back to work”. During its first year on Mars, the mission achieved its goal by determining that, more than 3 billion years ago, the region offered fresh-water lakes and rivers with environmental conditions well-suited to supporting microbial life, if life has ever existed on Mars.
NASA also approved an additional two-year extension for the Mars Science Laboratory Project, which will begin on October 1, 2016.
The rover landed in Mars’ Gale Crater and has been exploring the area since August 2012. Now, NASA has figured out the cause-and the culprit is also one of Curiosity’s best features.
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NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, manages the project for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Hopefully, they can keep patching Curiosity up from afar through its new, longer mission.
