Space radiation knocks Giove-B Galileo satellite into "safe mode"

Safe mode, huh? While we had previously assumed only our clearly cursed PCs could fall into such a dark, dark place, apparently we were badly mistaken. The recently launched Giove-B satellite, which is the second bird launched for Europe's next-gen satnav network, was recently sent into some sort of "safe mode" after being "rocked by a surge of space radiation." Reportedly, said mode halts the satellite's mission activities and forces it to "concentrate on keeping its batteries topped up by ensuring its solar panels are properly aligned with the sun." Thankfully, the poor Giove-B was able to resume its frolicking in outer space around a fortnight after being blasted, though we hear if it had been just a tad worse, ground control would've had a real mess on their hands with the Blue Screen of Death.

[avester @ Oct 1st 2008 2:00PM]

Cool.

Well, good working on the satellite and all, to not let the batteries run out when the nearest spare is behind a damn expensive trip.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 1st 2008 2:30PM]

...and this is why NASA better be sure they have the period in-between the Space Shuttle's retirement and a new Shuttles flight covered.

You don't know what could happen up there.

A satellite gets the BSOD.

[Bobbyy @ Oct 1st 2008 3:30PM]

hahah only problem is Its using Unix not windows

[nDee @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:58AM]

Kernel got panic,
not much better.

ON a S60 phone,
when you run out of juice,
it shuts off most programs to keep you talking
So I think that's quite a good idea.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Oct 1st 2008 2:01PM]

Click no to use system restore, otherwise, click yes to continue in safe mode.

[webon @ Oct 1st 2008 2:01PM]

Richards, Grimm and the storms where not available for comment

[engadget @ Oct 1st 2008 2:01PM]

If it ended up with a BSOD, I'd hope that the hardware will do some form of timeout rebooting of the system.

[MioTheGreat @ Oct 1st 2008 4:21PM]

That's called a watchdog timer, and I can't imagine designing such a device without one.

[Izzy @ Oct 1st 2008 4:35PM]

-Hello this is Geek Squad how can I help you?
*I need a service call.
-Address please.
*Ummm, 40,000km straight up.
-That will be $39,000,000 per hour. What credit card would you like to use today?

[maveric101 @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:16AM]

i'd bet it doesn't run windows

[JAmerican @ Oct 1st 2008 2:02PM]

I thought that was the actual screen from the satellite lol. I was like "Are they using a version of Windows Embedded?"

[Reader @ Oct 1st 2008 6:06PM]

And then she was like "No wai!" and then I was like "Yeah Wai!" and then Cindy said...

[Rogue_Genius @ Oct 1st 2008 2:03PM]

Aliens trying to hack the satellite network again, eh?

[Aaron P. @ Oct 1st 2008 2:04PM]

I blame DRM.

[ZaxCG2 @ Oct 1st 2008 2:41PM]

That's what they get from borrowing their friend's disc.

[konshuss @ Oct 1st 2008 2:18PM]

that is a really neat feature. only cost them $4.7billion.

[Christian Martin @ Oct 1st 2008 2:18PM]

"Roger that, Houston. I'm a PC."

[nxp3 @ Oct 1st 2008 2:30PM]

I don't know why they didn't use the system restore...it would have taken them back to the point before the incident and nothing would be lost. Now if it does get corrupted, you do need to use the recovery console.

[backuptoit @ Oct 1st 2008 2:31PM]

All satellites have a Safe Mode. Some cars have it, too. It's called autonomy and it's commonplace for complex systems. (like computers!)

Moreover, it's not a bad thing when a satellite enters safe mode. It means that something unexpected happened, the spacecraft didn't know what to do and so responded by stopping activity and calling home. That is the appropriate response, and that's a good thing.

Engadget: gadgets are your domain. Not aerospace.

[nasaguy @ Oct 1st 2008 3:04PM]

backuptoit is correct. Safe Mode on a satellite is nothing like the BSOD. Safe Mode on a satellite simply places the satellite in a known safe configuration. This is a good thing.

This satellite was in no danger. Hubble's loss of comm/telemetry processing is a larger issue.

[Jacob @ Oct 1st 2008 2:37PM]

yeah, but does it run Crysis? and Doom? and does it blend?

[Hellaphunt @ Oct 1st 2008 2:58PM]

You forgot 3G iPhone, First!, FAIL, and... Viking Quest.

[telepheedian @ Oct 1st 2008 3:45PM]

You all need to buy a go-cart.

[Dead_Rebel @ Oct 1st 2008 3:58PM]

tard

[chickenator @ Oct 1st 2008 2:52PM]

that's why i turned off Aero on my satellite.

[Hellaphunt @ Oct 1st 2008 2:56PM]

WWFD?

[Dr Zoidberg @ Oct 1st 2008 3:26PM]

KFC?

[telepheedian @ Oct 1st 2008 3:47PM]

IBM!

[Hellaphunt @ Oct 1st 2008 3:55PM]

What Would Feynman Do?

[kal326 @ Oct 1st 2008 3:16PM]

Well at least it wasn't the spinning beach ball of death.....

[matt merritt @ Oct 1st 2008 4:04PM]

Not to nitpick, of course, but seeing as it uses Unix it's actually a lot closer to that then it is to BSOD.

[mnk0 @ Oct 1st 2008 3:23PM]

wow .. unbelivable that a satelite would be running windows.. lol thats a scary thought

[Dead_Rebel @ Oct 1st 2008 3:59PM]

I have some beach front property in Kentucky I'd like to sell you...

[StalematE @ Oct 1st 2008 3:26PM]

it almost took a stackdump...

[Reality Check @ Oct 1st 2008 3:41PM]

1) There is no way this was an "accident"? "Space radiation"?? Yeah right! "China" is more likely. I bet somebody pwn3d this puppy.
2) The writing on this story is just awful. By trying to be too witty and colloquial, it loses all readability. It would be awesome if Engadget writers actually had training in journalism and English composition.

[matt merritt @ Oct 1st 2008 6:11PM]

When complaining about the composition of a written article, one should generally refrain from using terms such as "pwn3d".

[Ian @ Oct 1st 2008 6:43PM]

someone needs to reality check your face!

[Michael B @ Oct 1st 2008 4:24PM]

Please tell me that those who made comments about it running Windows aren't serious, right? .. It's hard to tell on here sometimes. No, the Satellite is not running windows.

[Chris Lewis @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:42AM]

Its running DOS 6.1 of course!!!! :)