The Mars rover Curiosity is sitting stationary as NASA engineers try to figure out what caused a short circuit on its robotic arm.<\/p>\n
The Mars rover Curiosity is sitting stationary -- all work paused -- as NASA engineers try to figure out what caused a short circuit on its robotic arm. <\/p>\n
NASA is hoping to get the arm operating again in a few days, but engineers are still searching for the cause of the problem, said NASA spokesman Guy Webster. <\/p>\n
\"I'm not sure where the short is, but we've been doing some testing,\" Webster told Computerworld. <\/p>\n
NASA initially reported Tuesday that an onboard fault-protection action had stopped the robotic rover from working on Feb. 27 while it was in the process of transferring sample materials from a device on the rover's robotic arm to onboard laboratory instruments. <\/p>\n
At the time, Curiosity, which is looking for evidence that Mars once could have supported life, sent information back to NASA indicating it had sustained a transient short circuit. Engineers immediately began diagnostic work. <\/p>\n
\"We are running tests on the vehicle in its present configuration before we move the arm or drive,\" said Curiosity Project Manager Jim Erickson, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a statement. \"This gives us the best opportunity to determine where the short is.\" <\/p>\n
This is not the first long-distance software fix for Curiosity. In November 2013, the rover was knocked into safe mode when a problem occurred shortly after the rover received a software upgrade. <\/p>\n
Curiosity has been working at the base of Mount Sharp, which has been the rover's destination since it landed on Mars in August 2012. <\/p>\n
The rover first explored the area around its landing site, where it found evidence of an ancient river flow and lake beds. <\/p>\n
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NASA seeks cause of Mars rover's short circuit<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Mars rover Curiosity is sitting stationary as NASA engineers try to figure out what caused a short circuit on its robotic arm. The Mars rover Curiosity is sitting stationary -- all work paused -- as NASA engineers try to figure out what caused a short circuit on its robotic arm. Continue reading