The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has developed technical problems in two of its six science instruments, NASA announced on 7 February. The Mars Climate Sounder, which maps the distribution of temperature, ice clouds, and dust in the planet's atmosphere, has been temporarily stowed while scientists investigate why the instrument occasionally skips steps and puts the field of view slightly out of position. The problem first appeared in December and a fix seemed to work, but the problem reappeared in mid-January.