The Mars Odyssey is in safe mode after facing possible technical issues, according to NASA.
The spacecraft went into the precautionary safe mode on Thursday evening after detecting something wrong with one of its gyroscope-like devices that helps control its orientation.
The mission manager of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory says engineers have been in contact with the Odyssey and that the issue is limited to the device.
They are working on a plan to resume normal operations.
One of two NASA spacecrafts circling the planet, the Mars Odyssey snaps pictures of the Martian surface and communicates with rovers and other robots on the surface. It has been orbiting its namesake since 2001.
It will play an important role during the August landing of NASA’s newest rover.
Mars Spacecraft in safe mode after problem detected
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