Posted: Tue, Apr 14, 2009, 7:58 AM ET (1158 GMT)
One of the twin NASA rovers that have been exploring the Martian surface for over five years is suffering from an unexplained series of computer reboots, JPL reported Monday. The rover Spirit rebooted its computer at least twice over the weekend, and had some irregular communications sessions with the Earth over that time, project officials said. Other systems on the rover, including its batteries and solar panels, are operating normally, and the reboots do not appear to be jeopardizing the overall condition of the rover. Project engineers said that the computer reboots may be an "age-related effect" and are considering switching to alternative communications systems to avoid having the reboots affect operations of the rover's high-gain antenna. Spirit's twin, Opportunity, is also in good health, and recently experienced a 40 percent increase in the electrical output of its solar panels after winds removed accumulated dust from the panels.

Related Links:

•  AP article
•  NASA/JPL press release