Glitch on Mars Odussey

NASA's Mars rovers recently survived a dust storm. Now the problem is a computer glitch. The computer of the Mars Odyssey orbiter put itself into safe mode recently; the problem seems to be a software glitch. The orbiter generally relays signals from the rovers back to Earth.

Since the problem, the rovers have been using their high-gain antennae to connect directly with Earth. NASA is confident, however, that the orbiter will be back in the loop later this week.

Even with the problem, surface exploration has continued. Opportunity has begun its descent into Victoria Crater, and is now well below rim level.