Flash Memory worn out
Its primary mission it began in January 2004.
Opportunity utilizes two types of memory to record mission telemetry as it explores the Meridiani Planum region.
The two types of memory are known as volatile and non-volatile.
However, such memory has a life time i.e.
So thats why we call it amnesia it forgets what it has done.
Opportunity uses the Mars Odessy satellite to send back data to its handlers on earth.
And as the rover shut down, it erased all data stored on its RAM.
The flash memory problem has now grown even more problematic.
As the rover fails to save data, its software forces the rover to restart.
Basically the rover stops what it was doing because it wasnt sure what caused the reset, said Callas.
So that interrupts our science mission on the surface of Mars.
Its like youre trying to drive on a family trip the car stalls out every 5 minutes.
You dont make much progress that way!
Fortunately though, the rover reconnected to the station and continued its operations as per commands.
It seems the source for all these problems lead back to one particular bank of flash memory.
But anything could fail at any moment, he said.
So were always cautious that something could happen.
Milestone approaching
The Mars rover has also come very close to achieve two feats.
The first being completing the distance equivalent to one entire Mars marathon.
Resource :Discovery
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source: www.techworm.net
