In the early afternoon on the 4th of July, as most Americans were on the verge of slipping into a food-induced nap, the New Horizons space probe went into a nap of its own. According to scientists, the probe’s onboard computer “detected an anomaly,” and it went into safe mode, resorting to using its backup computer to report back to its concerned earthling watchers.
NASA says it could take up to “one to several days” to get New Horizons back to full capability. Until then, its scientific data gathering abilities are scuttled. The probe is still on track to perform its flyby of Pluto, but if the folks back here on Earth can’t figure out how to pull it out of safe mode, then it won’t be able to gather any data as it speeds past the celestial body into the darkness of the beyond. Combine that pressure with the up to nine hour communication latency with the 3 billion mile-away probe, and you’ve got an engineering problem for the books. Best of luck, NASA.
Submitted here for your approval are our suggestions for just what the anomaly might be:
- Aliens.
- Interlopers.
- Extraterrestrials.
- Martian stowaways.
- … you get the idea.
We’ll be waiting for your call, NASA. What are your thoughts, crew?
(via io9)
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