"budbiss" wrote in message
...
Cardmanwrote:
On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:38:04 GMT, (Gary W.
Swearingen) wrote:

Someone please ask the "reset" question, when if it
can be made to
restart, then this may solve their problem.




I heard on the news this afternoon that they were going to attempt at
sending some type of RESET signal to the rover. I don't remember if
they said exactly when they plan to do it though. I believe it was
ABCnews that reported this.

Well that's a typical Microsoft Windows user talking there, hehe. The
computers on board spacecraft are designed specifically not to fail and they
won't. Besides, the computer resets itself automatically if a problem crops
up. Most likely the computer is still working but the data modulator (sits
between the computer and the radio transmitter) is faulty. But I would be
surprised if they didn't have a backup for the low-gain radio, but it seems
they don't.

It could also be a general computer failure, which leaves the radio sending
only beeps but the rover being essentially 'dead.'