Curiosity rover out of safe mode, still recovering

Mars rover Curiosity
This undated image provided by NASA shows powdered rock in the scoop of the Mars rover Curiosity. The six-wheel rover collected the sample after drilling into a Martian rock. The next step is to transfer a portion to its onboard laboratories for analysis. Curiosity landed in August 2012 to study whether the environment was hospitable for microbes.
AP Photo/NASA

NASA says the Curiosity rover is returning to normal after a computer problem limited its activities.

The space agency said Monday that the car-size rover exited safe mode over the weekend, meaning it suspends its science activities but is still in contact with Earth.

Curiosity is now preparing to resume its science experiments -- perhaps by next week.

Engineers still don't know what caused Curiosity's memory glitch.

The rover was in the middle of analyzing powder from a rock it recently drilled into.

Curiosity has been purposely taking it slow since it landed last year in an ancient crater near the Martian equator. Scientists still plan to order the rover to head toward a mountain in the middle of the crater. The trip is expected to take at least nine months.

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