10 votes

NASA about to pull plug on Mars rover, silent for eight months

3 comments

  1. [3]
    noir
    Link
    How do they send commands to it? Do they relay it to a satellite? I don't know anything about space.

    How do they send commands to it? Do they relay it to a satellite? I don't know anything about space.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      zaarn
      Link Parent
      NASA operates the Deep Space Network, which is a set of 3 antennas on the ground + a lot of satellites in orbit around various places, including Mars. Because there is only so much bandwidth and...

      NASA operates the Deep Space Network, which is a set of 3 antennas on the ground + a lot of satellites in orbit around various places, including Mars.

      Because there is only so much bandwidth and time slots, allocation is difficult and depends on your PR profile and importance (IIRC)

      Likely they have instructed a satellite in orbit around mars to repeat the last command until a set time (ie,later today) and listen on any responses from the little rover.

      6 votes
      1. noir
        Link Parent
        Thank you, brilliant response.

        Thank you, brilliant response.

        3 votes