The fourth NASA-sent robotic spacecraft, Curiosity Rover, has stopped operating normally due to a mechanical glitch. The device has been kept in “Safe Mode” due to file corruption problems on the internal computer. Weighing about 1 ton, this robot was sent to Mars in 2012.

The BBC reportsCuriosity’s flash memory system file was destroyed shortly after it began experimenting with rocks on Mars. This robot has been running using backup computers since Thursday. Currently, NASA scientists are trying to solve the problem. The process of starting work in a new way by configuring the backup computer has also started.

It can take anywhere from a few days to a week for Curiosity to return to full functionality.

NASA scientists say file corruption could be triggered by misguided astronomy. Although the company’s vehicles are resistant to this type of radiation damage, it also has some limitations, which were observed in the case of Curiosity. Since the robot had just started analyzing rock samples from Mars, the mechanical glitch at such a time is really frustrating for NASA.

The backup computers that Curiosity now runs on were previously only used to check for software updates. The robot has two computers in total, the first of which is out of order at the moment. The newly launched computer has only the software required for landing. However, all the other useful software of Curiosity can be installed in it from a distance.