Robots on Mars paralyzed because of computer problems

The problem with the computer makes Curiosity self-propelled probe on Mars stop working. The incident is expected to last several days.

John Grotzinger, a California Institute of Technology scientist, said the incident happened when Curiosity sent radio data to Earth on March 17, US time, Space reported.

"This is not a rare event , " Grotzinger said.

A picture taken by Curiosity on Mars itself. (Photo: Space)

It is likely that the incident will cause Curiosity to stop working for a few days, meaning that scientists have to wait for its scientific data for a few more days.

Before the incident, Curiosity sent the results of the analysis of dust samples in a rock that it drilled from February to Earth. The results showed that three billion years ago, bacteria could live in Mars.

Curiosity devices detect some of the chemicals needed for life in the amount of dust from rocks - like sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon. Mixtures of those substances also provide energy for bacteria if they exist.

The amount of dust from the stone also contains minerals that people often see in clay - a sign that water once existed on the red planet.

This happened only seven months after Curiosity landed on Mars in August. Meanwhile, NASA wanted it to find evidence of ancient life on Mars for two years.