No, They are loading a new SW patch. Probably the last FSW ptch on the rovers.

Considering the amazing longevity of these magnificent rovers, how can you suggest that this most recent update will be the last?

Paolo, a bit OT here, but do you know if any of the MER code will be reused on MSL (or adapted for same)? Have seen a lot of this on modern airplanes.

That's what I have been told. This update was necessary since hardcoded in theSW there was a limit of 2010 as date relative to commands. Any command dated past 2010 would have been refused.

We might upload some small patched to be able to overcome malfunctions or loss of HW, but I do not believe there will be any significant change in the flight SW.

Paolo

Yes. Lots of commands and sw will be reused. Some of the ground tools as well.

Paolo

At the time this code was written who would believe such a limit could be reached!!!

In another topic, just checked the imaging plan and sol 1813, that is today, is planned for driving.

There has got to be a work-around solution. Is is possible to roll back the clocks on the rovers with a carefully written routine to adress the host of other issues likely to arise? (as long as it's uploaded by 2010 )

The workaround is the patch that has been loaded on Opportunity (for now). This new version of the FSW now can accept commands past 2010. Now we have to start thinking about how to fix the next time restriction due to Unix and Linux timespec. ;-)

Paolo

that will be 2038. but before this happens, we will hit the limit of the space-clock counter in the MER file names, the last navigation camera image being something like 1N999999999... on Sol 9821, Tue. 09. 09. 2031 ... approx. seven years before the UNIX time_t overflow

I forgot about that. In either case I believe it will be someone else's problem as I will be retired by then (hopefully).

Paolo.

This has been an interesting subtopic.

No kidding, who would have guessed? Who could have guessed? Let's hope the coders of future exploratory missions are encouraged to be somewhat more optimistic.

If I am fortunate enough to remain sentient until those years, I'll be either 81 or 88 years old.

Excuse me. I have to poll one or more of my various sensors, and report back.

If the rovers are still working by 2031 there'll hopefully be people on Mars more than happy to PUSH them around!

The limit of 2010 was a safety measure in order to prevent execution of commands that were received in error. Besides error correction code, there are some additional safety cross checks in place and this was one of them. 2010 *was* a very, very optimistic date at that time. ;-)

Paolo

Steve Squyres thinks that Oppy could drive 12 km over 2 years. I estimate that by 2031 Oppy will have travelled another 132 km. Oppy will easily reach the Miyamoto MSL landing site by then. Endeavour and Miyamoto are both visible in Tedstryk's Mariner 6 mosaic:

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&id=15664

On a more serious note, what are the plans when Oppy has reached Endeavour? Is there a plan to drive to the interesting hills on the South East side of Endeavour? Are there plans to drive down to the floor of Endeavour?

Just supposing both MER rovers will still be active by the time MSL lands, how much load will that put on the ground-teams, SS has once commented that operating two rovers at the same time could be quite tough, would it be possible to operate 3 rovers at the same time? (Having in mind also comm-passes and relay capacity of the orbiters, DSN availability, etc).

I suppose the landing-location of MSL will be very important in this aspect, if it lands "close" to one of the MER rovers this will be harder on the relay?

Regards,

Geert.