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Glitch Forces Mars Probe Shut-Off

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the your-tax-dollars-at-work dept.

TheEvilOverlord writes to tell us that BBC News is reporting that a 'glitch' has forced the mars probe to switch into a "safe-mode" switching several of its systems off. Perhaps it is just an education tool to show martians the meaning of BSOD.

4 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Shouldn't the headline include.... by An+Ominous+Cow+Erred · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...which probe?

    There's presently functioning two orbiters (Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey), two rovers (MER A a.k.a. Spirit, MER B a.k.a. Opportunity), and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is on the way.

    I realize TFA has the info but it sort of belongs in the headline. "The mars probe" just sounds silly and uninformed.

  2. tax dollars? by CunningNickName · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Mars Global Surveyor's mission ended in 2001 and has been on an extended mission ever since.

    I'd say Americans are getting their money's worth and then some.

  3. They do not roll their own.. Except for shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    They DO NOT roll their own anymore... For the most part, almost every NASA mission is flying windriver's vxWorks OS. Frankly, as much as I'd like, linux doesn't stand a chance for at least 10 more years, because it costs so little (most NASA programs spend at least 100k on vxWorks and tools) but also because the embedded development tools are not quite as nice as windriver's.

    Windriver's OS isn't all that fancy, but it does pack a pretty small footprint when configured well.

    Gotta love slashdot... Lots of people who don't know what they are talking about correcting and preaching to the world.

  4. Re:"The" Mars Probe? by drsquare · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In the summary, it was refered to as 'THE Mars Probe'. As there are only a few probes, it would have made sense to say which one, or at least to refer to it as 'A Mars Probe'. Saying 'the' probe makes it look like there is only one, and I for one would have assumed it's the rover thing.

    Imagine a newspaper headline after the hurricane:

    Hurricane Destroys City
    Today the city was devastated by the hurricane. More details on page 23.