Rover

Nasa Scientists Have Applied To Extend Curiosity Rover's Mission On Mars

• Report rights infringement
• published: 12 Jul 2016
• views: 1

Nasa's Curiosity Mars rover is resuming full operations today following a massive technical issue on July 2nd. The rover put itself into a safe standby mode on July 2, and Nasa confirmed today the rover team brought Curiosity out of safe mode on July 9. It is believed the problem was caused by a 'software mismatch' in the the rover's software asd it transferred images. 'The most likely cause of entry into safe mode has been determined to be a software mismatch in one mode of how image data are transferred on board,' Nasa said. 'Science activity planning for the rover is avoiding use of that mode, which involves writing images from some cameras’ memories into files on the rover’s main computer. 'Alternate means are available for handling and transmitting all image data.' Curiosity has entered safe mode three times previously, all during 2013. The rover landed in Mars' Gale Crater in August 2012. 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. In continuing investigations, the mission is learning more about the ancient wet environments and how and when they evolved to drier and less habitable conditions. NASA last week approved an additional two-year extension, beginning Oct. 1, 2016, for the Mars Science Laboratory Project, which developed and operates Curiosity. Nasa is hoping its Curiosity Rover may finally be able to settle the question of whether the liquid still exists on the planet's surface. Scientists are dispatching the robot to explore a feature on a sandy hillside they believe could be their best chance yet of finding water on the red planet. Researchers announced last year that strange dark streaks that appear on Martian mountain sides seem to be created by liquid water. They are now hoping to get a closer look at this phenomenon – known as recurring slope lineae – by sending Curiosity to one of these areas. It is thought the streaks are caused by briny water bubbling to the surface and running down gullies on the mountainsides when the planet warms up. This causes the slopes to darken before they then lighten as the water appears to dry out. Nasa scientists have applied for a specific extension to Curiosity's mission on Mars. Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3685458/Curiosity-Nasa-reveals-Mars-rover-resumed-work-mystery-crash-sent-safe-mode-July-2nd.html MUSIC: Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/