How NASA Keeps the Mars Rovers Alive

NASA’s Curiosity rover on the floor of Mars will not be solely accumulating knowledge; it continues to evolve and advance its mission by receiving software program updates from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. So, how are these updates carried out, and how much issues do they remedy?

For years, NASA has been conducting completely different missions to unlock the secrets and techniques of Mars. Probably the most crucial elements of those missions is the robotic rovers actively working on the floor. These robots don’t simply gather pictures; they look at the floor, take samples, create digital maps, and contribute to scientists’ higher understanding of the Crimson Planet.

Nevertheless, these automobiles proceed to evolve even after being launched into house. These robots working on Mars, 1000’s of kilometers away, obtain software program updates similar to a smartphone. Furthermore, these updates don’t simply add new options; in addition they present inventive options to technical issues that come up.

Launched in 2011 and efficiently landed in Mars’s Gale Crater in 2012, Curiosity is without doubt one of the longest-operating NASA rovers on the Martian floor to this point. Its main purpose was to research whether or not Mars had supported microbial life up to now. However over time, it has gone far past this purpose. Analyzing completely different areas like Mount Sharp, Vera Rubin Ridge, and the Naukluft Plateau, the automobile has each despatched again scientific knowledge and captivated the world with the pictures it captured from the Martian floor.

Nevertheless, this lengthy mission period has introduced challenges. Over time, Curiosity’s software program and {hardware} have needed to be supported with varied updates and interventions.

Is It Potential to Ship Software program Updates to Mars?

It could sound unbelievable, however NASA periodically updates Curiosity’s software program. Similar to the updates that come to telephones or computer systems, these automobiles achieve new options or have sure bugs mounted. After all, this course of is rather more advanced and long-term. Groups at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California topic the updates to intensive testing on Earth first. Some software program enhancements contain months, and even years, of trials.

An excellent instance of this course of occurred in 2017. The difficult terrain situations on Mars had been inflicting put on and tear on Curiosity’s wheels. To stop this, JPL engineers labored for about 18 months to develop an algorithm that gave the automobile the flexibility to drive extra fastidiously. This software program was efficiently uploaded to Curiosity, hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, in March 2017.

In early 2023, a way more complete replace was made. Due to this software program package deal, which included a complete of 180 completely different adjustments, Curiosity can analyze its environment quicker whereas driving. The robotic, which beforehand needed to cease and scan its atmosphere earlier than making a choice, can now course of knowledge and transfer inside just a few seconds. This permits it to discover extra space whereas consuming much less power.

Creativity Comes into Play with {Hardware} Failures

It’s, in fact, inconceivable to bodily intervene with a rover on the floor of Mars. Because of this when a mechanical failure happens, engineers on Earth have to search out rather more inventive options. Curiosity is a hanging instance of this once more.

In late 2016, the automobile’s drill system, used for accumulating samples, broke down. Below regular circumstances, this was a major problem that might halt important knowledge assortment. Nevertheless, JPL engineers developed a brand new drilling methodology utilizing the prevailing tools. They enabled Curiosity to proceed its drilling operate by utilizing the robotic arm otherwise. Crucially, this answer was executed with a collection of instructions despatched to the Martian floor.

Due to software program updates and artistic engineering options, Curiosity remains to be actively engaged on Mars at present. The information it obtains is of nice significance each for looking for traces of previous life and for paving the best way for future crewed Mars missions.

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