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Originally posted by Darkblade71
reply to post by abeverage
Did you see the hi res image off of your link showing where curiosity landed? That's crazy details on the image. Right down to 24 in per pixel.
Thanks for the link!
Originally posted by sprtpilot
Think people. Software update? How does that remotely make sense? Just downloading updates over the internet frequently results in corruptions, incomplete file transfers, and buff buff buffering problems. We are supposed to believe they have to "update software" remotely (to say the least) just days after landing?
Originally posted by abeverage
reply to post by miniatus
Aw crap I do remember hearing it was getting a software upgrade, well hopefully it works!
Originally posted by Soylent Green Is People
Originally posted by abeverage
reply to post by miniatus
Aw crap I do remember hearing it was getting a software upgrade, well hopefully it works!
These probes usually have a "safe mode" (much like your computer does). If something goes wrong with the install, the rover could probably enter this safe mode while they try a reinstall, or while engineers try to find the problem.
By the way, there are two computers -- a primary and a backup. I think I heard the NASA software engineer in the press conference say they would install it on one, and then the other (I guess they will test the primary before installing it on the backup).
Originally posted by MightyPenfriend
Software update?
Update with what? What info have they gathered at this point that couldn't be programmed during the preparations, or sent during the journey over there?
Makes no sense to me.edit on 14-8-2012 by MightyPenfriend because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by miniatus
Originally posted by sprtpilot
Think people. Software update? How does that remotely make sense? Just downloading updates over the internet frequently results in corruptions, incomplete file transfers, and buff buff buffering problems. We are supposed to believe they have to "update software" remotely (to say the least) just days after landing?
it makes perfect sense .. why wouldn't it? .. they were talking about the software updates well in advance of it happening.. it's basically taking the software used for the landing procedures and initial touch down for diagnostics, systems checks and all of that.. and replacing it with a system geared for navigating, exploring and completing all of the various mission tasks..
Spirit and Opportunity have gone through this.. Opportunity was given artificial intelligence in it's last update.
Keep in mind that curiosity has two identical "brains" .. there's a complete fail safe in case of corruptionedit on 8/14/2012 by miniatus because: (no reason given)
They were sent during the journey over there. Turning them on however is best not done when you're travelling at tens of thousands of mph through space.
I don't think storage was the issue but maybe it was?
Originally posted by MightyPenfriend
And that takes 4-5 days?
Are they also using Windows?
Of what information does this update actually consist?
Because what? Computers don't work in these conditions? What about the flight computers and such? Don't they work either during flight?edit on 14-8-2012 by MightyPenfriend because: (no reason given)
Why don't you ask them rather than asking me? You just seem to be searching for a reason to express your cynicism.
Why would you risk something going wrong? The estimated lifetime of Curiosity is 2 years, spending a week doing a slow and careful check of every system without any risk of it slamming into the surface at 400mph seems a pretty small price to pay.
As I said, they are reoptimizing the computers for roving procedures rather than spaceflight and landing procedures (considering the spaceflight and landing is done). ' The software that was up and running for spceflight and landing is being put aside, and the software used for roving is being installed and switched on. This swapping of the cruising/landing application with the roving application will make the computers run more efficiently, rather than having both applications already installed and running simultaneously.
I don't think there's a conspiracy behind it. Just don't understand completely. I know they'll probably have their reasons. I keep thinking of games and how many of them are buggy on release...