Curiosity suffered from a boot problem but is now operational

The NASA team is struggling with a small problem in using the Curiosity rover since it went into safe mode last week. Now this problem has been resolved and the rover restarts, ready to resume its Mars exploration mission.

The problem occurred last Friday during a startup sequence that caused the systems to go into safe mode in order to protect themselves. Fortunately, a few days later, the NASA team managed to get the rover out of safe mode and resume normal operations. Since then, the rover has started more than 30 times without any other problem. The team is therefore convinced that the problem has been solved. .

The researchers still do not know exactly why the problem occurred, however. "We are still not sure of its exact cause and we are collecting the relevant data for the analysis," said Steven Lee, Curiosity's assistant project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in New York. a statement. "The mobile has had a one-time computer reset, but it has been working normally since, which is a good sign. We are currently working on taking a snapshot of her memory to better understand what could have happened. "

As long as they do not understand the problem, the team is cautious in limiting the orders it sends to the mobile. This will minimize the changes made to his memory so that the team can gather all the data they need on the possible causes of the problem. The researchers will have to suspend their scientific activities while they solve the problem, but they hope that it will not take long.

Once the cause of the problem is resolved, Curiosity will be able to resume exploration in the Glen Torridon area where it is currently based. Researchers are interested in abundant clay minerals in the soil because they show that there was once water present in the area. The team chose a new drilling site nearby for Curiosity, located just 200 meters from the current rover position.

"The science team is eager to take our first sample from this fascinating place," Curiosity project scientist Ashwin Vasavada said in a statement. "We do not yet understand how this area fits into the general history of Mount Sharp, so our recent images give us food for thought."