NASA’s Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in 2012, marked its “birthday” with a unique and quirky gesture. In 2013, the mission team made the rover sing itself Happy Birthday using its sample-analysis unit (SAM). The move went viral online and has become an iconic moment in space exploration.
The trick behind this phenomenon was discovered by NASA engineers Florence Tan and Tom Nolan in 2007. They found that SAM could produce vibrations that sounded like music, paving the way for the rover to sing its own birthday tune. However, it’s essential to note that Curiosity only sang Happy Birthday once, as it’s not a feasible or scientifically justified activity.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Tan revealed that the reason for this isolated incident was purely practical. Since Curiosity is nuclear-powered and has a limited lifespan of around 14 years, every action comes at an energy cost. As the rover ages, scientists must prioritize resource efficiency, making non-essential activities like singing Happy Birthday unnecessary.
Today, Curiosity continues its mission in Gale Crater, silent and still, without any knowledge of its own birthday celebration. Despite the temporary appearance of a “lonely rover,” the true story behind this viral moment lies in the constraints of space exploration and the importance of resource management.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/curiosity-turns-13-why-curiosity-stopped-singing-itself-happy-birthday-80294