spacetoday.net: Mars orbiter's computer rebooted

Posted: Fri, Mar 13, 2009, 7:15 AM ET (1115 GMT)
Mars Odyssey spacecraft illustration

NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft successfully rebooted its computer system this week, a process designed in part to restore a set of backup systems for future use. The spacecraft's computer had not been restarted since October 2003, and engineers believed a reboot of the computer would clear out any memory flaws that had accumulated in the system since then. The reboot also restored the functionality of a component of the computer's "B-side", or backup system, that became inoperable in 2006. The spacecraft, in orbit around Mars since 2001, has never had to switch to its B-side systems. Odyssey's scientific instruments will resume normal operations next week.