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Pluto Probe Back To Normal, Cause of Snafu Found

Tablizer writes: NASA has provided an update to the problem with the New Horizons probe that will fly by Pluto next week. "The investigation into the anomaly that caused New Horizons to enter "safe mode" on July 4 has concluded that no hardware or software fault occurred on the spacecraft. The underlying cause of the incident was a hard-to-detect timing flaw in the spacecraft command sequence that occurred during an operation to prepare for the close flyby. No similar operations are planned for the remainder of the Pluto encounter.

4 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. DRINK when someone uses the word "anomaly"... by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 3, Funny

    I always take a shot when someone uses the word "anomaly" in a space story. The legacy of STTNG continues.

  2. 1 sec time change? by radiumburn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lets blame the 1 second time change - probably couldn't connect back to the local satellites because of a time certification error haha.

  3. 100% failure in 72 hours by gsslay · · Score: 5, Funny

    It can only be attributable to human error. They checked out the AE-35 Unit and it had no problems at all.

    I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.

  4. Re: No hardware or software fault? by Demonoid-Penguin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did someone who likes space shoot your mother or something? You always pop up on these threads.

    As a small child he wanted to be an astronaut. Then he heard it meant reading and, um, stuff. Bitter now, and still a child.