LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA says a spacecraft circling Jupiter has hit another snag.
The space agency said Wednesday that Juno detected a problem, went into safe mode and shut off its camera and instruments. The spacecraft can communicate with Earth, but its activities are limited. Engineers are trying to determine what went wrong.
It's the latest issue for Juno, which has been orbiting Jupiter since July on a mission to explore its poles, atmosphere and interior.
Last week, mission managers postponed an engine firing after a pair of valves in the spacecraft's propulsion system didn't work as expected.
NASA says the two problems are not related.
The delay means Juno won't swing close again to Jupiter until December. The spacecraft made a close pass in August, beaming back pictures of the north pole.