4°c Clear
17°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity sidelined again after experiencing new problem
This composite image released by NASA shows a panoramic view of Mount Sharp, made from dozens of images. The Martian mountain is the ultimate destination for the Curiosity rover. NASA scientists said Monday March 18, 2013, the rover went into safe mode over the weekend, further delaying the restart of science experiments. (AP Photo/NASA)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After recovering from a computer problem, the Mars rover Curiosity is sidelined again, further delaying the restart of science experiments.
The latest complication occurred over the weekend when the six-wheel rover entered safe mode after experiencing a software file error.
Curiosity remained in contact with ground controllers, but it can't zap rocks, snap pictures or roam around until the problem is fixed. Rover team members had expected to resume activities Monday, but they now have to wait a bit longer — perhaps until the end of the week.
"We would definitely like to get over this and get back to doing something," said project manager Richard Cook of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which operates the $2.5 billion mission.
Studies at the Gale Crater landing site have been on hold since the beginning of March after engineers discovered a problem with Curiosity's computer memory, possibly caused by space radiation. The latest snafu isn't as serious, but any unexpected problem throws off the schedule, Cook said.
It's the longest stretch of inactivity since Curiosity's daring touchdown near the Martian equator last year.
Just before halting its investigations, the nuclear-powered rover used the drill at the end of its 7-foot-long robotic arm to bore into a rock near where it landed and analyze the powder.
Last week, scientists announced the results from the first drilling: Curiosity had discovered an ancient Martian environment that could have been favourable for primitive microbial life. Despite the excitement over achieving one of the mission's main goals, it has yet to find complex organic molecules considered the chemical building blocks of life.
Once Curiosity returns to normal, it'll only have a few days to work before a planetary alignment limits radio communication between Earth and Mars during most of next month.
___
Follow Alicia Chang at http://twitter.com/SciWriAlicia .
?N???
More Science & Technology
- Back to Top
- Return to Science & Technology
Poll
Most Popular Science & Tech
- Twitter adds login verification as extra security measure following breaches
- 'Heads Up!' top paid iPhone app in Canada
- US killer tornado had power of many Hiroshima atomic bombs
- Poll: More US teens are trending to Twitter; say Facebook older, with too much drama
- First Look: Microsoft introduces an elegant Xbox with sharper Kinect, but much unknown
- Microsoft reveals Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment console, last of 3 major systems unveiled
- Skyrocketing inflation: Russia now charging NASA $70 million per seat to fly US astronauts
- Ebook sales plateauing: BookNet Canada report
- Astronaut Chris Hadfield back on Earth after five-month mission in space
- When is it OK for wunderkinds to drop out of school? (Hey, it worked for Tumblr's founder!)
- The end of the credit card?
- Possible BlackBerry tablet steals the show at company's annual conference
- Chris Hadfield's week: from commanding the space station, to being unfit to drive a car
- US killer tornado had power of many Hiroshima atomic bombs
- In unusual pattern, Oklahoma tornado tracked path of 1999 monster twister with record winds
- Poll: More US teens are trending to Twitter; say Facebook older, with too much drama
- All the fitness that fits
- Twitter adds login verification as extra security measure following breaches
- Billion-year-old underground water could hold clues to early life on Earth, Mars
- 'Heads Up!' top paid iPhone app in Canada
- 'WhatsApp Messenger' top paid iPhone app in Canada
- The end of the credit card?
- Astronaut Chris Hadfield back on Earth after five-month mission in space
- Possible BlackBerry tablet steals the show at company's annual conference
- Astronaut MP Garneau snubbed at museum opening of Canadarm exhibit
- Chris Hadfield's week: from commanding the space station, to being unfit to drive a car
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- Bugged by the billions: East Coast about to see power of big numbers in coming cicada invasion
- Greenhouse gas that's key to global warming hits highest level in about 2 million years
- US killer tornado had power of many Hiroshima atomic bombs
- The end of the credit card?
- Chris Hadfield's week: from commanding the space station, to being unfit to drive a car
- All the fitness that fits
- Possible BlackBerry tablet steals the show at company's annual conference
- Microsoft reveals Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment console, last of 3 major systems unveiled
- Poll: More US teens are trending to Twitter; say Facebook older, with too much drama
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- The end of the credit card?
- Astronaut Chris Hadfield back on Earth after five-month mission in space
- Canadians watch 30 hours of TV a week but for many the web dominates free time
- New wireless players Mobilicity, Wind Mobile and Public Mobile may all face sale
- How do you compare? New report reveals stats about social media usage in Canada
- Hurricane watch at Saturn's North Pole: Cyclone eye is 1,250 miles wide, cloud speed 330 mph
- Bugged by the billions: East Coast about to see power of big numbers in coming cicada invasion
- Adobe shifts to subscription model for software package, Creative Suite becomes Creative Cloud
- Windows 8, Take 2: Microsoft to spiff up maligned operating system with 'Blue' touch-up job
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.