Curiosity spent the first weekend on Mars for updating software

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After a successful landing on Mars on August 5, the Curiosity machine took some photos of Gale's crater. But now it's time to do some serious work. From August 10 to 13, NASA engineers are conducting a full software update on both Curiosity computers.

During the big upgrade, they will install the programs needed for the upcoming activities, including for the recognition of objects during autonomous movement and for controlling the manipulator arm.

The operating system of the rover is originally designed with the possibility of an upgrade. It was assumed that at each stage of the operation it will be possible to install into the system exactly those programs that are needed at the moment. Until now, Curiosity has used a software version where most of the programs are intended for landing the machine. Many of them are no longer needed. At the same time, there are only basic movement possibilities. After the upgrade, the computer system will be maximally adapted to work on the surface of Mars.
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The key function in the new system is image processing for automatic recognition of obstacles. This will allow the rover to carry out long autonomous campaigns without human participation, with autocorrection of the route and detour of obstacles.

Another important update package is specific functions for the manipulator arm, which should accurately and accurately apply a number of complex scientific tools.

Now NASA engineers are carefully studying photographs of the surrounding area, taken by Curiosity in the Gale crater. They will have to choose where to send the rover in a few weeks, when the testing and calibration of all devices is finished.

On board the Curiosity there are ten scientific instruments with a total weight of 15 times more than the scientific equipment of the past Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Some of them, including a laser spectrometer for remote sensing of the rock, are first used on Mars.