NASA successfully reboots Mars orbiter's computer

[March 12, 2009]  PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- NASA has successfully commanded the Mars Odyssey spacecraft to reboot its computer.

Mission manager Gaylon McSmith of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the restart on Wednesday went without a hitch.

Scientists wanted to reboot the computer because they're worried that its memory may have been corrupted from years of exposure to space radiation. The spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since 2001.

McSmith says the procedure also restored the spacecraft's backup systems. Engineers hadn't been sure those would work because a power component had become inoperable.

The reboot was delayed a day after engineers noticed a temperature spike. An investigation revealed a heater circuit was left on.

The Odyssey can resume operations after several days.

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On the Net:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/

[Associated Press]

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