[Coco] Re: Off Topic - Rover

[jdaggett at gate.net]

Brad

The flash memory used in space vessels are different from those 
used on Earth in that they must be radiation hardened. The process 
is to expensive and is unnecessary for commercial consumer 
electronics. 

Outside the Earth's atmosphere the solar radiation level increase 
dramatically. Memory chips are greatly affected by the Solar 
Radiation.

james



On 24 Jan 2004 at 20:36, Brad Grier wrote:

To:             	coco at maltedmedia.com
From:           	Brad Grier <bradgrier at cox.net>
Date sent:      	Sat, 24 Jan 2004 20:36:07 -0600
Subject:        	[Coco] Re: Off Topic - Rover
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> John Donaldson wrote:
> 
> >  Found this in the JPL Rover Web Site.
> > 
> > Spirit's flight software is not functioning normally. It appears to
> > have rebooted the rover's computer more than 60 times in the past
> > three days. A motor that moves a mirror for the rover's infrared
> > spectrometer was partway through an operation when the problem
> > arose, so the possibility of a mechanical problem with that hardware
> > will be one theory investigated.
> > 
> > John Donaldson
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> The latest is that it's bad flash memory (just like the kind used in
> digital cameras). Testing seems to confirm this. The good news is it
> sounds like they may be able to work around it without losing too much
> functionality.
> 
> Another rover lands tonight.
> 
> Brad
> 
> 
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