Article Posted on : - Sep 19, 2010

Artist concept of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASA/JPL photo

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA (BNS): NASA scientists are working to restore the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter which had put itself into a precautionary standby mode after experiencing a spontaneous computer reboot on Wednesday.

According to NASA, the initial analysis of telemetry from the orbiter indicated the "safe mode" status was triggered by a reboot similar to one experienced August 26, 2009.

For 10 months prior to this latest reboot, the spacecraft operated normally, making science observations and returning data, NASA said.

The orbiter has normal power, fully charged batteries and safe temperatures. The mission's ground team has increased the data-rate of communications and is taking additional steps to resume science observations soon, it said.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, at Mars since 2006, has met the mission's science goals and returned more data than all other Mars missions combined.

The orbiter completed its primary science phase of operations in November 2008 but it continues to observe Mars both for science and for support of future landed missions.