How NASA Keeps the Mars Rovers Alive

NASA’s Curiosity rover on the floor of Mars just isn’t 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 resolve?

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

Nonetheless, 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 artistic options to technical issues that come up.

Launched in 2011 and efficiently landed in Mars’s Gale Crater in 2012, Curiosity is likely one of the longest-operating NASA rovers on the Martian floor up to now. Its major purpose was to analyze whether or not Mars had supported microbial life previously. However over time, it has gone far past this purpose. Inspecting 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 images it captured from the Martian floor.

Nonetheless, this lengthy mission length has introduced challenges. Through the years, Curiosity’s software program and {hardware} have needed to be supported with varied updates and interventions.

Is It Attainable to Ship Software program Updates to Mars?

It could sound unbelievable, however NASA periodically updates Curiosity’s software program. Identical to the updates that come to telephones or computer systems, these automobiles achieve new options or have sure bugs fastened. In fact, this course of is far more complicated 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 amazing instance of this course of occurred in 2017. The difficult terrain situations on Mars have 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 rigorously. 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. Because of this software program package deal, which included a complete of 180 completely different adjustments, Curiosity can analyze its environment sooner whereas driving. The robotic, which beforehand needed to cease and scan its atmosphere earlier than making a call, can now course of knowledge and transfer inside just a few seconds. This enables it to discover extra space whereas consuming much less vitality.

Creativity Comes into Play with {Hardware} Failures

It’s, in fact, unimaginable to bodily intervene with a rover on the floor of Mars. Which means when a mechanical failure happens, engineers on Earth have to seek out far more artistic options. Curiosity is a placing instance of this once more.

In late 2016, the automobile’s drill system, used for accumulating samples, broke down. Underneath regular circumstances, this was a major problem that might halt important knowledge assortment. Nonetheless, JPL engineers developed a brand new drilling methodology utilizing the present gear. They enabled Curiosity to proceed its drilling operate through the use of the robotic arm differently. Crucially, this resolution was executed with a collection of instructions despatched to the Martian floor.

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