Curiosity rover receives first software update since 2016

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released the first firmware update since 2016 for the Curiosity rover. The update has improved the rover's performance.

Here's What We Know

The new software version brings 180 changes, but the key one is that Curiosity has started to navigate better in space after the update. The rover pauses to process landmarks as it moves. The update has increased processing speed, so the rover will pause less frequently, which will have a positive effect on energy efficiency.

The second major innovation is a change in the steering algorithm. The Curiosity will perform fewer steering operations in the case of an arcing motion. This will extend wheel life by reducing the wear and tear of the aluminium treads during contact with the surface of the Red Planet.

Curiosity landed on Mars in 2012. It received its previous software update in 2016. The latest update was tested for four days. All that time, the rover rested and did not carry out any missions.

Source: NASA