NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory transmitted new commands to a 15-year-old exploration rover on Mars and will continue doing so for weeks to come. The laboratory said Friday it intends to address the effects of Mars’ planet-wide dust storm on the Opportunity rover. The storm has caused the rover to cease transmitting following the last communication made on June 10, 2018.
“We have and will continue to use multiple techniques in our attempts to contact the rover,” said John Callas, project manager for Opportunity at JPL.
The transmitted commands are designed to address possible damages and errors on the rover’s X-band radios and internal clock. The team in charge of the rover will consult with JPL’s Mars Program Office and the space agency’s headquarters if the recovery attempt does not produce the intended results.
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