Scientists baffled rogue Mars rover

Scientists at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California are trying to figure out why the robotic rover Spirit is acting erratically on the planet Mars.

The laboratory said that Spirit had failed to notify controllers on Earth of its orientation.

The six-wheel robotic geologist also did not record its activities to its memory.

Scientists are running diagnostic tests this week to figure out the problem, but think the problem could be caused by cosmic rays hitting the rover’s electronics.

Spirit and its twin Opportunity have long surpassed scientists’ expectations after landing on Mars in 2004.

They had hoped originally to operate each of the solar-powered rovers for about three months.